• Wisconsin congressman deflects Trump questions by attacking delegate who texted with Epstein during 2019 testimony
• Van Orden calls Plaskett’s campaign donations from convicted sex offender blood money during heated CNN exchange
• House Freedom Caucus threatens censure resolution against Virgin Islands delegate over text messages

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin engaged in a heated confrontation with CNN anchor Boris Sanchez Tuesday, pivoting from questions about President Donald Trump‘s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein to attack Del. Stacey Plaskett for texting with the convicted sex offender during a 2019 congressional hearing.

The Republican congressman dismissed Sanchez’s inquiries about Trump’s ties to Epstein, instead focusing on newly released documents showing Plaskett exchanged text messages with Epstein while she questioned Michael Cohen before the House Oversight Committee in February 2019.

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“Well, here’s what else Jeffrey Epstein wrote — he wrote several text messages to congresswoman Plaskett while she was sitting on the Oversight Committee in an Oversight hearing about Jeffrey Epstein, and she was asking him what questions to ask Michael Cohen,” Van Orden told Sanchez during the CNN News Central appearance.

Blood money accusation intensifies exchange

The confrontation escalated when Van Orden characterized campaign donations Plaskett received from Epstein as “blood money.” The Virgin Islands delegate accepted $8,100 in contributions from Epstein between 2014 and 2018, years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

“That’s blood money,” Van Orden declared. “So what we need to be asking ourselves is, sir, is why was a Democrat member of Congress on the Oversight Committee, responsible for the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, live texting with Jeffrey Epstein during the hearing?”

When Sanchez attempted to interject while Van Orden was speaking, the Wisconsin Republican responded sarcastically: “Do we have a limited amount of time because you’re going to interview her next? Is that right? Is she going to be on your show and explain herself?”

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Sanchez replied that CNN would be “more than happy” to have Plaskett on the network. He added that Plaskett has “refuted those characterizations” — a comment that further agitated Van Orden.

Text messages show real-time coaching

Documents released by the House Oversight Committee last week reveal Epstein appeared to be monitoring the Cohen hearing closely and providing strategic guidance to Plaskett in real time. While Plaskett’s name is redacted in the documents, The Washington Post analyzed timestamps and hearing footage to identify her as Epstein’s texting partner.

“Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets,” Epstein texted, referring to Rhona Graff, Trump’s longtime executive assistant. Plaskett responded: “RONA?? Quick I’m up next is that an acronym.”

At 2:28 p.m., Plaskett began questioning Cohen about Graff and other Trump associates. By 2:34 p.m., one minute after Plaskett concluded her questioning, Epstein replied with a brief assessment: “Good work.”

The texts also included personal exchanges, with Epstein asking Plaskett if she was chewing something after cameras showed her moving her mouth. She confirmed she was chewing the inside of her mouth, describing it as a longstanding habit.

Censure threat looms

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris of Maryland announced Tuesday that his group would introduce a resolution to censure Plaskett and remove her from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

“I think she needs to be censured by the House and removed from the [intelligence committee] for colluding with a convicted felon during a congressional hearing,” Harris told reporters. “That does not reflect well on the House of Representatives.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York dodged questions about Plaskett Monday, saying he had not spoken to her and that “her statement speaks for itself.”

“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,” spokesperson Angeline Jabbar said in a statement. “As a former prosecutor she welcomes information that helps her get at the truth.”

Complex Virgin Islands connections

Plaskett represents the U.S. Virgin Islands as a nonvoting delegate, the same territory where Epstein owned two private islands — Little Saint James and Great Saint James — that prosecutors described as central to his sex-trafficking operations.

From 2007 to 2012, Plaskett served as general counsel to the Virgin Islands Economic Development Commission, which court filings show provided Epstein’s companies $219.8 million in tax breaks between 1999 and 2012. Six Epstein accusers filed a lawsuit against Plaskett and other Virgin Islands officials in 2023, alleging they facilitated his sex-trafficking operation. That suit was voluntarily dismissed in August.

Van Orden concluded the CNN segment by joking that he and Sanchez could both refute being bald, “but that doesn’t mean we’re going to grow hair tomorrow” — a reference to Plaskett’s office refuting characterizations of the text exchanges.

The House voted 427-1 Tuesday to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, compelling the Justice Department to release all investigative files related to Epstein within 30 days.

Should members of Congress face consequences for communicating with convicted criminals during official hearings?

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