Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, faced ridicule, labeled as “dishonest” and “sick,” following his argument on the House floor. He claimed his former law student and colleague was merely “taking a phone call from her constituent” when she was exchanging texts with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 House hearing.
On Tuesday, Republicans, spearheaded by Rep. Ralph Norman from South Carolina, introduced a resolution to censure Plaskett for what they termed “inappropriate coordination with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein,” asserting it “reflects discreditably on the House of Representatives.”
Plaskett was observed texting Epstein, whose primary residence was in the U.S. Virgin Islands, during a 2019 hearing. This hearing involved former Trump attorney Michael Cohen testifying about his work with the former president amidst an ongoing probe into Trump’s business dealings and matters tied to the 2016 election.
“They’re aiming for another headline! Claiming they’ve arraigned a Democratic member for answering a phone call from her constituent, Jeffrey Epstein, during a hearing. I don’t believe there are any rules against taking phone calls during a hearing,” Raskin exclaimed on the House floor Tuesday afternoon as Congress attempted to pass a bill aimed at censuring Plaskett.
DEMOCRAT FOUND TEXTING JEFFREY EPSTEIN FACES HOUSE CENSURE, COMMITTEE REMOVAL THREATS
“Are we suggesting that merely because they were on a phone call, they’re guilty of something? That we should strip them of their committee assignments? That we should censure them? Have we reached that point? I urge you to consider,” he continued. “This is the House of Representatives, representing the United States of America. Let’s adhere to the Constitution and due process.”
The White House’s Rapid Response team quickly responded to Raskin on social media, sharing a clip of his remarks that they deemed “sick.” However, Raskin’s defense, while unique, was not isolated. Several Democrats spoke from the House floor in support of the congressional delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday, criticizing Democrats for “besmirch[ing]” their colleague.
“Jamie Raskin — one of the worst individuals to ever disgrace Congress — suggests Stacey Plaskett was simply ‘taking a phone call from her constituent’ while colluding with a convicted sex offender during a committee hearing,” the White House Rapid Response team stated. “These individuals are SICK!”
Meanwhile, independent journalist Lee Fang, previously with The Intercept, described Raskin’s comments as “incredibly dishonest,” pointing out that court filings revealed Plaskett had much closer ties to Epstein than the average constituent.
“Simply incredibly dishonest. Plaskett aided Epstein while serving in the Virgin Islands government with tax credits, then worked directly for Epstein’s fixer, and subsequently received significant campaign support from Epstein and his aides to secure her election victory,” Fang stated in response to Raskin’s comments.
EPSTEIN REFERENCED TRUMP IN PRIVATE EMAILS TO GHISLAINE MAXWELL AND OTHERS, NEW RECORDS SHOW
Fang had previously reported in 2023 that Plaskett, despite attempting to distance herself from the disgraced financier and claiming ignorance of campaign donations made to her by Epstein, was not being truthful.
“Plaskett not only repeatedly sought financial contributions from Epstein and had multiple face-to-face encounters with him, but she also worked directly for a St. Thomas-based law firm that played a role in cultivating influence for Epstein’s clandestine activities,” Fang wrote.
He also added that Plaskett’s involvement with Epstein could potentially extend further back because she previously served as an attorney on the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, which granted Epstein hundreds of millions in alleged “improperly obtained tax exemptions over the course of two decades.”
“The spin is outrageous,” conservative influencer CJ Pearson commented on Raskin’s defense.
“This is unbelievable!” exclaimed Eric Daugherty, assistant news director at Florida’s Voice News.
“Let the person without collusion with a convicted sex offender to manipulate the questions in a hearing be the first to criticize,” Red State writer Bonchie posted on X.
“Why is Raskin attempting to minimize his colleague’s communication with a convicted sex offender? Is it because he knows his colleague Hakeem also sought a dinner with Epstein? Or is it due to concerns about what else will be revealed about Democrats…?” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson posted on X.
Conservative journalist, filmmaker, and podcaster, Mel K, highlighted the fact that Raskin was Plaskett’s professor at American University’s law school in her response to Raskin’s House floor comments, questioning whether the Maryland Democrat was “for real.”
Plaskett, defended by Raskin and others on the House floor, also defended herself, arguing that there was no “public knowledge at that time” that Epstein was under federal investigation despite
“I began receiving numerous texts from friends, foes, and constituents about the events in that hearing. I received a text from Jeffrey Epstein, who, at that time, was my constituent, and there was no public knowledge that he was under federal investigation,” Plaskett stated Tuesday after news of her hearing texts went viral.
“I recently heard from someone that I was seeking advice from him,” Plaskett added in her defense from the House floor Tuesday. “Let me assure you, I do not require advice on how to question anyone from any individual. I have been a lawyer for 30 years.”
The resolution to censure Plaskett and remove her from her duties failed in a House vote Tuesday night.
