Governor-elect Stacey Plaskett says she intends to submit sweeping ethics legislation to the Virgin Islands Legislature on her first day in office, including measures to strengthen the independence of the Department of Justice and establish new safeguards against government corruption. However, during her first post-election press conference, she stopped short of ruling out individuals previously convicted of corruption from serving in her administration.
The incoming governor repeatedly assured Virgin Islanders that strict ethical standards would guide appointments to her administration as she addressed concerns surrounding her selection of Dean Plaskett, a former government commissioner convicted of federal bribery and obstruction of justice, as chief of staff of her transition team.
Speaking during her introductory remarks, Ms. Plaskett emphasized that Dean Plaskett's appointment was temporary and limited to the transition period. She explained that, while she continues serving as the territory's Delegate to Congress until assuming the governorship in January, his responsibilities involve facilitating communication between her and transition personnel and addressing issues that arise on her behalf.
She also reiterated that Erwin Raphael, the transition director, has overall responsibility for coordinating the incoming administration's preparations.
Acknowledging concerns about the appointment, the governor-elect recognized that “many in our community have been and continue to be traumatized by the indictments, convictions, corruption that is perceived in our government.”
She said restoring public confidence would require transparency and legislative action designed to strengthen accountability across government.
“On the day of our inaugurations, we will be sending down legislation on ethics,” Ms. Plaskett announced.
Among the proposed reforms is a requirement that the removal of the Virgin Islands attorney general receive the advice and consent of the Senate. She also intends to propose making the Department of Justice's White Collar Division an independent entity, strengthening its ability to pursue corruption and financial crimes.
“I think those are real, tangible things that we want to do to …allay fears and the distrust that I know is rightly there,” Ms. Plaskett said.
The proposed measures come as the incoming administration faces questions about how it will evaluate the backgrounds of individuals being considered for senior positions.
As previously reported by the Consortium, Dean Plaskett was convicted in 2008 of federal bribery and two counts of obstruction of justice stemming from a government contracting scheme. He received a nine-year federal prison sentence and a monetary judgment exceeding $1 million.
Following the announcement of his appointment to the transition team, the governor-elect defended her decision, saying he had served his sentence and should not be permanently disqualified from contributing to public service because of his past.
During the press conference, Ms. Plaskett again emphasized the temporary nature of his assignment. However, when pressed by journalists, she did not commit to excluding individuals with previous corruption convictions from appointments in the permanent Plaskett-Potter administration.
Neither the governor-elect nor Mr. Raphael outlined specific vetting criteria or disqualifying factors currently being applied to individuals seeking positions within the transition operation.
Ms. Plaskett instead pointed to the work of a legal team reviewing ethical standards that could be adopted by her administration.
“What we can share with you all is that we have put together a very robust legal team that are reviewing what ethical standards we should have the works alongside what is being done in other locations…as well as with the federal government,” she said.
Drawing on her experience as a prosecutor and as counsel to the U.S. House Ethics Committee, Ms. Plaskett said she intends to work with the incoming Legislature to establish clearer rules governing public service, including “what positions people can and cannot have, what ethics rules we should follow, what people can accept and not accept…so that prayerfully we do not fall into this again.”
She emphasized that the proposed ethics framework must do more than reassure territorial residents. It must also demonstrate to federal authorities that public funds are being handled responsibly.
According to the governor-elect, her administration intends to adopt policies that “not only gives comfort to the people of the Virgin Islands that we are using tax dollars appropriately,” but will also ensure “that the federal government is comfortable with how we are using money.”
The emphasis on federal confidence comes as the territory continues to depend heavily on federal funding for infrastructure, recovery projects and essential government programs.
Ms. Plaskett expressed confidence that the legislation expected to be submitted on January 4, 2027, would mark a significant departure from existing practices and help restore trust in territorial institutions.
She predicted that Virgin Islanders would be pleasantly surprised by the proposed changes, which she said would “create a very different environment in government for the people of the territory.”
For now, however, questions remain about the standards the governor-elect will apply when selecting individuals to serve in the administration that succeeds Governor Albert Bryan Jr.'s government, particularly whether prior corruption convictions will constitute grounds for disqualification from positions of public trust.
