Newly released records from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate reveal that the convicted sex offender exchanged text messages with Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) during Michael Cohen’s high-profile February 2019 congressional testimony — and that the communication may have shaped Plaskett’s questioning of Cohen.
The text messages, included among thousands of pages of emails and documents disclosed Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee, show Epstein watching the hearing in real time. Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, was testifying before the committee about alleged misconduct by Trump, including falsifying financial records, directing hush money payments, and exhibiting racist behavior — accusations that Trump denied at the time.
At one point, Epstein seemingly alerted Plaskett that Cohen had referenced former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff. “Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets,” Epstein wrote, misspelling her first name. Plaskett responded: “RONA?? Quick I’m up next is that an acronym,” implying she was preparing to question Cohen and might use the tip.
Although the lawmaker’s name is redacted in the documents, timestamps and the content of the messages align with footage of Plaskett’s participation in the hearing, strongly indicating she was Epstein’s texting partner.
The records also show Plaskett reached out to Epstein earlier that morning, texting at 7:55 a.m., “He’ll talk about his grades.” Epstein replied, “what privilege stands behind the none release of college transcripts?”
Epstein, who maintained a long but complicated social connection with Trump before his 2019 arrest, appeared highly engaged in Cohen’s testimony. Trump has attempted to distance himself from Epstein, repeatedly asserting he knew nothing of the financier’s sexual abuse. “I had no idea,” Trump said in July 2019. “I haven’t spoken to him in many, many years.”
Reached by phone Thursday, Plaskett declined to address questions about the texts and referred inquiries to her staff. Her chief of staff, Angeline Jabbar, said she was “not in a position to confirm or not” whether the two exchanged messages.
Following publication of the revelations, Plaskett’s office issued a statement saying she received messages from staff, constituents and members of the public during the hearing — “including from Epstein.” The statement emphasized her record opposing sexual assault and human trafficking and her support for Epstein’s victims.
