The House is set to vote on a censure measure targeting Democratic Del. Stacey Plaskett for her contact with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers initially rejected a Democratic-led effort to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee by a narrow 214-213 vote, with two Republicans joining Democrats to push for Ethics Committee review. Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina brought up the measure through a fast-track process, bypassing Hill leadership and committees, which would deliver a formal rebuke of Plaskett and remove her from the House Intelligence Committee.
Documents released from Epstein’s estate showed the nonvoting delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands texting with Epstein during a congressional hearing in 2019. This revelation has intensified scrutiny over the allegations, highlighting the ongoing political tensions related to Epstein’s case. The House also voted nearly unanimously on the same day to force the Justice Department to release more information about its case against Epstein, a move that underscores the growing public and legislative interest in the matter.
If the measure is adopted tonight, Plaskett would be the latest House Democrat to be removed from her committee role, following similar actions against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) in the previous Congress. Republicans voted last Congress to remove Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee for her past comments about Israel. These developments underscore the polarized political landscape and the increasing use of disciplinary measures by the House to address perceived misconduct or controversial statements by members.
While the debate over Plaskett’s actions remains contentious, the broader implications of the vote extend beyond her individual case, reflecting the political dynamics of the House and the role of ethics committees in shaping congressional conduct. The outcome of the vote is expected to set a precedent for how similar allegations are handled in the future, further influencing the political discourse within the chamber.