House Fails To Censure Democrat Who Texted With Epstein During Hearing

The Republican majority in the House of Representatives failed on Tuesday to censure Democratic Del. Stacey Plaskett and remove her from her position on the Intelligence Committee after defections from a handful of GOP members.
Plaskett became embroiled in controversy late last week after House Republicans released materials showing she texted with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing.

The late-night vote of 209–214 came just hours after the House approved a separate bill directing the Justice Department to release files from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure, while another three Republicans voted “present.”
In the days leading up to the vote, the House Oversight Committee began releasing large batches of documents obtained from Epstein’s estate, including text messages and other communications, UPI reported.

The documents included copies of text messages between Epstein and Plaskett as she prepared to question Michael Cohen, former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, during a 2019 congressional hearing, reports noted.
Republicans quickly responded to the disclosure. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) introduced a censure resolution alleging that Plaskett had “inappropriately coordinated” with Epstein by receiving suggested lines of questioning and messages of encouragement. The resolution also sought to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee for further investigation.

Plaskett, a Democrat, serves as the non-voting delegate representing the U.S. Virgin Islands in the House. While she may participate in committee work and other chamber functions, she is not permitted to vote on the House floor.

In a floor speech, Plaskett defended her actions, stating that Epstein was a constituent and that her communications with him were part of her effort to gather information.

“I know how to question individuals. I know how to seek information. I have sought information from confidential informants, from murderers, from other individuals because I want the truth,” she said.

Epstein had two properties in the Virgin Islands, but he lived in New York City.

Norman, however, told The Washington Post that it was “beyond comprehension” for Plaskett to have communicated with the disgraced financier in connection with House business.

“The American people expect honesty, the American people expect integrity and judgment from their elected officials,” he said in a floor speech, according to the Post. “They expect members of Congress to conduct themselves with one word — decency — not to seek advice from a predator who exploited minor children.”

Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), perhaps accidentally, engaged in a moment of truth on Monday when responding to a reporter’s inquiry, saying that Americans are asking why the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s files were not released during President Joe Biden’s term.

“Why wouldn’t they have been released the last four years when President Biden was in office?” a reporter asked Schumer. “That’s the question every American is asking,” he responded. “Not every American, but so many Americans are asking. What the hell is [Donald Trump] hiding? Why doesn’t he want them released?” he added.

In fact, Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday and urged the majority of Republicans in the House and Senate to vote in favor of releasing the files.

Last week, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released emails and documents they claim tied Trump to Epstein’s child sex trafficking, but in reality, the emails did no such thing.
Republicans have speculated for months that if Trump really was involved, the Biden administration would have most certainly released or leaked that information during the 2024 campaign cycle to damage Trump’s chances at getting elected again.

Also Monday, Trump said he would immediately sign legislation authorizing the release of Epstein materials.

Breaking: Barack Obama Just Confirmed in Washington, D.C. — Details Emerging

In a development that is quickly drawing attention across the country, Barack Obama has just been confirmed in an announcement made in Washington, D.C., according to early reports. The confirmation, which occurred only moments ago, has sparked widespread interest as officials and observers wait for more details about the situation.

Initial information suggests that the announcement was made during a briefing in the nation’s capital, where officials confirmed the update involving the former president. While the full context of the confirmation is still unfolding, the news has already begun circulating rapidly through political circles and media outlets.

Barack Obama, who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017, remains one of the most influential po

litical figures in modern American politics. Any official confirmation involving him tends to generate immediate public and media attention, both domestically and internationally.

Sources close to the situation say additional statements may be released soon, which could clarify the nature of the confirmation and what it could mean moving forward. Analysts are already speculating about possible implications, though officials have urged the public to wait for verified information.

For now, the announcement from Washington, D.C. marks a developing story. More updates are expected as authorities and representatives provide further details in the coming hours.

Stay tuned as this story continues to unfold.

President Donald Trump Signs Major New Executive Order

In a dramatic new court filing, Ghislaine Maxwell has claimed that at least 25 alleged accomplices connected to Jeffrey Epstein quietly reached “secret settlements” related to abuse allegations — yet were never criminally charged.

The filing, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, argues that newly discovered evidence reveals previously undisclosed agreements between plaintiff attorneys and multiple men who, according to Maxwell, could be considered co-conspirators in Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation.

“New evidence reveals that there were 25 men with whom the plaintiff lawyers reached secret settlements — that could equally be considered as co-conspirators,” Maxwell wrote in documents filed without the assistance of her legal team.

Maxwell, 63, is currently serving a 20-year federal sentence following her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges. In her latest submission, she maintains that prosecutors failed to disclose crucial information that could have altered the outcome of her trial.

“None of these men have been prosecuted and none has been revealed to me,” Maxwell wrote. “Had I known, I would have called them as witnesses.”

She further contends that the alleged concealment of these settlements — along with what she describes as jury bias — deprived her of a fair trial. According to Maxwell, if jurors had been informed of what she characterizes as “collusion” between government officials and civil attorneys, they may have reached a different verdict.

The filing also claims that four former employees of Epstein were referenced in both a prior non-prosecution agreement and the federal indictment he faced before his death in 2019, yet none of those individuals were ultimately charged.

The possibility that additional accomplices remain unidentified has reignited public scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case. Questions persist about whether the names of those who allegedly reached private settlements will ever be fully disclosed — particularly as federal authorities continue reviewing millions of pages of case-related documents.

To date, only Epstein and Maxwell have faced federal criminal charges directly tied to the sex-trafficking network. Others associated with Epstein have confronted civil lawsuits but have denied wrongdoing.

Among the most high-profile figures accused in civil proceedings was Prince Andrew, who was sued by Virginia Giuffre over allegations of sexual abuse when she was a minor. Prince Andrew has consistently denied the claims and later reached a financial settlement without admitting liability.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed that hundreds of attorneys are reviewing an estimated 5.2 million pages of documents connected to the Epstein investigation. Officials say the review process is complex and requires extensive redactions to protect victims’ identities.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated in December that the review is an “all-hands-on-deck” effort, emphasizing that victim protection remains a top priority even as pressure mounts for greater transparency.

It remains unclear whether the 25 men referenced in Maxwell’s filing negotiated any agreements with federal prosecutors or whether their settlements were strictly civil in nature. Legal experts note that civil settlements do not automatically shield individuals from criminal liability — though non-prosecution agreements can.

Maxwell’s filing is widely viewed as part of her broader legal strategy to challenge her conviction. Whether the court will grant further hearings or consider the alleged new evidence remains to be seen.

The renewed claims have once again thrust the Epstein scandal into the national spotlight, raising persistent questions about accountability, transparency, and whether all those involved in the long-running abuse network have truly been brought to justice.

As document reviews continue and appeals move forward, the case remains one of the most controversial and closely watched criminal sagas in recent American history.