Photo By Tom Williams/Pool/Abaca/Sipa USA
Jeffrey Epstein appeared to be exchanging real-time messages with House Democrat, Del. Stacey Plaskett (Virgin Islands), during Michael Cohen’s 2019 testimony, and may have nudged the lawmaker’s line of questioning.
The documents, published by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, include messages highlighted in a new report by The Washington Post that were sent as Cohen detailed allegations that President Donald Trump manipulated financial records and directed hush-money payments, claims Trump denied.
As the hearing unfolded, Epstein appeared to be monitoring the proceedings closely, alerting his contact that Cohen had mentioned former Trump aide Rhona Graff.
“Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets,” he wrote.
The recipient replied: “RONA?? Quick I’m up next is that an acronym.”
Epstein sent a stream of running commentary to the unnamed recipient before Plaskett questioned Cohen.
“Hes opened the door to questions re who are the other henchmen at trump org,” he wrote.
Minutes later, Plaskett pressed Cohen on who else the committee should interview, asking: “Are there other people that we should be meeting with?”
Cohen began to reply, mentioning Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg, before Plaskett cut in and narrowed in on the name raised in Epstein’s messages to his recipient: “You’ve got to quickly give us as many names as you can so we can get to them. Is Ms. Rhona, what is Ms. Rhonas?”
Timestamps and content in the records strongly align with the appearance of Plaskett, though her name is redacted in the released records.
The “Quick I’m up next” message was sent at 2:25 p.m., just minutes before Plaskett began questioning Cohen at 2:28 p.m., The Post reports. By 2:34 p.m., a minute after she wrapped, Epstein replied with a brief assessment to his texting partner: “Good work.”
At an earlier point during the feed, at about 10:40 a.m., cameras briefly cut to Plaskett, who appeared to be chewing. A minute later, Epstein texted the recipient: “Are you chewing.”
“Not any more,” the reply read. “Chewing interior of my mouth. Bad habit from middle school.”
According to The Post, Plaskett declined to answer questions and referred inquiries to her staff. Her chief of staff said she was “not in a position to confirm or not” whether Plaskett was texting with Epstein that day.
Epstein’s connection to Plaskett has been scrutinised before. Epstein owned private islands in the Virgin Islands and donated to local politicians, including Plaskett, who later returned the contributions. A lawsuit filed by Epstein accusers naming Plaskett was dismissed last year.
The post House Democrat Reportedly Texted With Jeffrey Epstein During Michael Cohen’s Congressional Testimony first appeared on Mediaite.
