Virgin Islands Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D) sought funding from Jeffrey Epstein in 2017 for a voter data project intended to support campaign outreach in the territory, according to emails released as part of the Justice Department’s unclassified disclosure of Epstein documents.
In a May 5, 2017, email sent under the pseudonym “LeRoy Daughter,” Plaskett proposed a one-year voter file initiative to compile updated contact information for local voters. The project aimed to improve phone banking and targeted messaging for her campaign and allied candidates.
“This project would allow us to completely outperform anyone in any race,” the email states.
Chuck Ross of The Washington Free Beacon provides further details from the newly released documents, shedding more light on Plaskett’s email exchanges with the deceased sex offender:
“This project would allow us to completely outperform anyone in any race,” wrote Plaskett. “Jeffrey, would really appreciate your support in the project and thoughts on our home and national scene.”
It is unclear why Plaskett used an alternative email account in the exchange with Epstein. The pseudonymous account, which appears to be a reference to Plaskett’s father, LeRoy Plaskett, is copied on a July 11, 2018, email in which Plaskett invited Epstein to a campaign fundraiser in New York City.
The email adds to an existing pile of evidence that Plaskett was far closer to Epstein, both personally and politically, than she has conceded publicly. In November, Plaskett defended revelations that she exchanged text messages with Epstein during a February 2019 congressional hearing, describing the exchange as correspondence with a “constituent” who had sent her unsolicited messages. She denied that she had “a friendship” with Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 of soliciting a minor for prostitution.
And yet, in a text message on Sept. 24, 2018, Plaskett asked Epstein if it would be “presumptuous” for her to consider Epstein “a friend,” the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Epstein responded warmly, writing, “Privileged to be called friend.”
Additional records confirmed that Plaskett exchanged text messages with Epstein during a February 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing. Those communications later led to an unsuccessful House effort to censure her.
Federal Election Commission filings show Epstein contributed to Plaskett’s campaigns during the 2016 and 2018 cycles. She later returned the contributions to charitable organizations after public scrutiny.
Plaskett has said her communications with Epstein were for information gathering, not a personal relationship, and that she was unaware of certain aspects of his criminal conduct at the time.
No criminal or ethics findings have been issued against Plaskett regarding the funding request or communications.
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