Newly released documents from Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s estate show that the convicted sex offender exchanged text messages with a Democratic member of Congress during Michael Cohen\u2019s February 2019 testimony, and that those messages may have influenced the congresswoman\u2019s questioning of Cohen. The documents, published Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee, include copies of Epstein\u2019s digital communications, emails, and text messages, The Washington Post reported. In the texts, Epstein appeared to be watching the hearing in real time and notified the congresswoman \u2014 whose name was redacted in the documents \u2014 that Cohen had mentioned former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff during his testimony. At the time, Cohen was accusing Trump of racism, financial manipulation, and authorizing hush-money payments, allegations Trump denied.<\/p>\n
Epstein texted, \u201cCohen brought up RONA \u2013 keeper of the secrets,\u201d misspelling Graff\u2019s name. \u201cRONA??\u201d the lawmaker replied. \u201cQuick I\u2019m up next is that an acronym,\u201d she wrote, indicating she was moments away from questioning Cohen. The timestamps on the messages matched the live hearing feed, and the content indicated that the texting partner was Del. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands, who served as a member of the House Oversight Committee. Plaskett declined to answer questions when reached by phone Thursday and referred inquiries to her staff. Her chief of staff, Angeline Jabbar, said she was \u201cnot in a position to confirm or not\u201d whether Plaskett was texting with Epstein and did not respond to follow-up questions.<\/p>\n
After the story was published Friday evening, Plaskett\u2019s office issued a statement acknowledging she received messages from Epstein during the hearing. \u201cDuring 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,\u201d the statement said. It added that Plaskett \u201cwelcomes information that helps her get at the truth\u201d and highlighted her record of combating sexual assault and human trafficking. The documents show Epstein messaged Plaskett before the hearing began. At 7:55 a.m. Eastern time, Plaskett texted Epstein, \u201cHe\u2019ll talk about his grades.\u201d Epstein replied one minute later, \u201cwhat privilege stands behind the none release of college transcripts?\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout the morning, Epstein continued messaging Plaskett. At 10:02 a.m., he texted, \u201cGreat outfit.\u201d At 10:22 a.m., he added, \u201cYou look great,\u201d to which she replied, \u201cThanks!\u201d At approximately 10:40 a.m., the broadcast showed Plaskett moving her mouth as though chewing something. At 10:41 a.m., Epstein texted, \u201cAre you chewing.\u201d Plaskett responded, \u201cNot any more. Chewing interior of my mouth. Bad habit from middle school.\u201d The messages continued throughout the hearing. At 12:50 p.m., Epstein asked, \u201cHow much longer for you.\u201d \u201cHours. Go to other mtgs,\u201d Plaskett replied.<\/p>\n
Other messages indicate Epstein was offering input on lines of questioning. At 12:25 p.m., Epstein wrote, \u201cHes opened the door to questions re who are the other henchmen at trump org.\u201d \u201cYup. Very aware and waiting my turn,\u201d Plaskett responded. When Plaskett questioned Cohen at 2:28 p.m., she asked about Trump associates Cohen had mentioned. \u201cSo Allen Weisselberg is the chief financial officer in The Trump Organization,\u201d Cohen began. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to quickly give us as many names as you can so we can get to them,\u201d she interjected. Plaskett\u2019s line of questioning then turned to Graff, just as Epstein had flagged. \u201cIs Ms. Rhona, what is Ms. Rhona\u2019s\u2014 \u2026?\u201d she asked. Cohen replied, \u201cRhona Graff is the \u2014 Mr. Trump\u2019s executive assistant \u2026 She was \u2014 her office is directly next to his, and she\u2019s involved in a lot that went on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Epstein would not be charged with federal sex-trafficking crimes until July 2019, several months after the Cohen hearing, but he was already a known convicted sex offender following his 2008 plea agreement in Florida.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Newly released documents from Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s estate show that the convicted sex offender exchanged text messages with a Democratic member of Congress during Michael Cohen\u2019s February 2019… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n