Censuring and condemning Delegate Stacey Plaskett and removing her from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for conduct that reflects discreditably on the House of Representatives for colluding with convicted felony sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing.
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Summary
House resolution seeks to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee. The resolution alleges she coordinated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a February 2019 congressional hearing via text messages. The House rejected this resolution on November 18, 2025.
Overview
- Resolution introduced November 18, 2025, to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett (U.S. Virgin Islands) and strip her Intelligence Committee seat
- Alleges Plaskett exchanged text messages with Jeffrey Epstein during a February 2019 House Oversight hearing featuring Michael Cohen testimony
- Claims based on documents reportedly released from Epstein's estate showing real-time coordination on questioning
Who does this affect?
- Main groups: Delegate Plaskett, House Intelligence Committee members, House Ethics Committee
- Who benefits/loses: If passed, Plaskett would lose Intelligence Committee position and face formal House censure
- Teen impact score: 1/10 (no connection to teen experience—internal House disciplinary matter)
What This Bill Does
- Section 1 formally censures Plaskett for alleged coordination with Epstein during congressional proceedings
- Section 1(2) directs House Ethics Committee to investigate full extent of Plaskett's connections to Epstein
- Section 2 immediately removes Plaskett from House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- Resolution cites Epstein's 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution and 13-month sentence
- Notes Epstein was under federal investigation starting November 2018, arrested July 2019 on sex trafficking charges
Legislative Status
- Introduced November 18, 2025, and voted on same day
- Failed in House vote—motion to reconsider laid on table without objection
- Referred to Committee on Ethics but vote occurred before committee action
In short
- House Republicans introduced resolution to punish Delegate Plaskett for alleged contact with Jeffrey Epstein during 2019 hearing.
- Resolution claimed Plaskett received coaching via text from Epstein, a convicted sex offender, while questioning witness Michael Cohen.
- House voted down the censure resolution the same day it was introduced.
- Resolution would have removed Plaskett from Intelligence Committee and triggered Ethics investigation.
- Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
Why should I care?
Censure resolutions represent Congress's way of formally condemning a member's conduct without expulsion. This resolution raised questions about member associations and judgment, particularly for those serving on sensitive committees like Intelligence. The allegations centered on coordination during official proceedings with someone convicted of serious crimes. The House's rejection of the resolution means no formal punishment or investigation was imposed. These internal disciplinary matters reflect how Congress polices its own members and what conduct it considers acceptable. Understanding censure processes helps explain congressional accountability mechanisms and how partisan divisions can shape responses to ethics allegations.