Stacey Plaskett defends relationship with Jeffrey Epstein: 'there are a lot of people who have done a lot of crimes'

Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) defended her past messages with Jeffrey Epstein during a CNN interview on Wednesday, telling the network that “a lot of people… have done a lot of crimes” when repeatedly pressed on why she communicated with the convicted sex offender.

The comments come as House Democrats voted Tuesday night to block a Republican-led resolution seeking to censure Plaskett and remove her from the House Intelligence Committee. The measure followed newly released documents from Epstein’s estate showing that Plaskett exchanged text messages with Epstein during a February 2019 congressional hearing.

In the CNN interview, Plaskett said her interactions with Epstein were tied to her role as a prosecutor and her interest in information he might have had.

“I believe that Jeffrey Epstein had information and I was going to get information to get at the truth,” she said. “Having a friendship with him is not something that I would deem to have… I’m moving forward, and I think that’s what we as American people should do.”

When CNN noted that Epstein was already a known sex offender at the time, Plaskett responded: “There are a lot of people who have done a lot of crimes. And as a prosecutor, you get information from people where you can.”

The texts, disclosed in a recent batch of files from Epstein’s estate, appeared to show Epstein giving Plaskett suggested talking points and questions during the 2019 hearing involving former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. 

The House voted 214–209 to table the censure resolution, with three Republicans joining Democrats and three others voting “present.” The resolution, filed by Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), accused Plaskett of improper contact with Epstein and sought to formally rebuke her.

Newly released Epstein-related documents have also drawn attention to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). Files released Tuesday revealed that a political firm representing Jeffries solicited financial support from Epstein in 2013. The email, sent to Epstein that year, promoted Jeffries as “one of the rising stars in the New York Congressional delegation” and “a staunch supporter of President Obama.”