Newly released House Oversight records, cited in a Washington Post report, show Jeffrey Epstein exchanging near real-time texts with a contact whose timing and content point to Del. Stacey Plaskett during Michael Cohen’s 2019 congressional testimony. Epstein alerted the recipient when Cohen mentioned Rhona Graff and urged follow-up for other names; minutes later Plaskett pressed Cohen about additional witnesses. Plaskett’s name is redacted in the records and her office has not confirmed the exchange. Epstein previously donated to Virgin Islands politicians and a related civil suit naming Plaskett was dismissed last year.
Newly Released Records Show Jeffrey Epstein Texted Del. Stacey Plaskett During Michael Cohen’s 2019 Testimony
Newly released House Oversight records, cited in a Washington Post report, show Jeffrey Epstein exchanging near real-time texts with a contact whose timing and content point to Del. Stacey Plaskett during Michael Cohen’s 2019 congressional testimony. Epstein alerted the recipient when Cohen mentioned Rhona Graff and urged follow-up for other names; minutes later Plaskett pressed Cohen about additional witnesses. Plaskett’s name is redacted in the records and her office has not confirmed the exchange. Epstein previously donated to Virgin Islands politicians and a related civil suit naming Plaskett was dismissed last year.
06:06 AM, 11/15/2025Politics
Records show Epstein messaging a lawmaker during Cohen’s testimony
Newly released messages published by the House Oversight Committee and highlighted in The Washington Post indicate financier Jeffrey Epstein exchanged near real-time texts with a contact whose timing and context point to U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett while Michael Cohen testified before Congress in 2019. The messages appear to track the hearing and may have influenced the lawmaker’s line of questioning.
As Cohen described allegations that President Donald Trump manipulated financial records and arranged hush-money payments—claims Trump denies—Epstein messaged that Cohen “brought up RONA — keeper of the secrets.” The recipient replied, “RONA?? Quick I’m up next is that an acronym.” Epstein then sent a running stream of commentary, including “He’s opened the door to questions re who are the other henchmen at trump org.”
Timestamps in the released records align closely with Delegate Plaskett’s appearance. The “Quick I’m up next” message was sent at 2:25 p.m., minutes before Plaskett began questioning at 2:28 p.m.; roughly a minute after she finished, Epstein messaged his contact, “Good work.” Although her name is redacted in the released materials, the chronology and substance correspond with her participation in the hearing.
Earlier that morning, cameras briefly showed Plaskett chewing; about a minute later Epstein asked his contact, “Are you chewing,” and received a candid reply about a nervous habit. Plaskett declined to answer reporters directly and referred questions to her staff; her chief of staff said she was “not in a position to confirm or not” whether she exchanged texts with Epstein that day.
Epstein previously owned private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands and donated to local politicians, including Plaskett; she later returned those contributions. A civil lawsuit by Epstein accusers that named Plaskett was dismissed last year.
Sources: House Oversight Committee records; The Washington Post.