Epstein Guided Democrat in Real-Time During Hearing Targeting Trump, Evidence Shows

thepopulisttimes.com

Newly released documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate indicate the disgraced financier was in direct contact with Rep. Stacey Plaskett during a Feb. 27, 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing, offering her real-time guidance as Michael Cohen testified about President Donald Trump’s alleged payments to silence claims during the 2016 campaign.

The messages, first reported by the Washington Post, were exchanged while Cohen referenced former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff.

Epstein appeared to be watching the hearing on television as he sent Plaskett suggestions on how to frame upcoming questions.

“Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets,” Epstein wrote, misspelling Graff’s first name.

“RONA??” Plaskett responded. “Quick I’m up next is that an acronym,” she added.

“Thats his assistant,” Epstein replied.

The documents also indicate Epstein attempted to steer the scope of Cohen’s testimony by encouraging Plaskett to widen her questioning.

“Hes opened the door to questions re who are the other henchmen at trump org,” Epstein texted at 12:25 p.m.

“Yup. Very aware and waiting my turn,” Plaskett wrote back.

According to the newspaper’s review of hearing footage and the timing of the text messages, Plaskett questioned Cohen at 2:28 p.m., pressing him about Graff and other Trump Organization figures referenced in Epstein’s texts.

At 2:34 p.m., one minute after her questioning ended, Epstein wrote, “Good work.”

Roughly 20,000 pages of Epstein-related documents became public Wednesday as part of a release ordered by the House Oversight Committee.

Plaskett’s name was redacted in the materials, but the Washington Post reported it was able to match the messages to the delegate by comparing them with the hearing video and the timeline of her participation.

At the time of the hearing, Epstein had already been convicted on state prostitution charges. Months later, federal prosecutors would charge him with sex trafficking minors.

His private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands — Great Saint James and Little Saint James — were later identified by federal authorities as central locations in his trafficking network.

Plaskett initially declined to comment on the report.

After publication, her office issued a statement confirming she had contact with Epstein during the hearing and describing the messages as part of a mix of communications she received while Cohen testified.

“During the hearing, Congresswoman Plaskett received texts from staff, constituents and the public at large offering advice, support and in some cases partisan vitriol, including from Epstein,” the statement said.

“As a former prosecutor, she welcomes information that helps her get at the truth and took on the GOP that was trying to bury the truth. The congresswoman has previously made clear her long record combating sexual assault and human trafficking, her disgust over Epstein’s deviant behavior and her support for his victims.”

In July 2019, Plaskett said she would return $8,100 in campaign donations Epstein had given her, after initially stating she planned to keep the contributions.

Plaskett also drew attention in June 2023 after a live MSNBC appearance in which she said Trump “needs to be shot” while discussing his handling of classified documents.

She immediately corrected herself, saying he should be “stopped.”

President Trump this week urged the Department of Justice to investigate Epstein’s ties to Democratic donors and institutions, including JP Morgan Chase.

On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to oversee the inquiry, stating it would be pursued “with urgency and integrity.”