USVI Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett.
USVI Congressional Delegate Stacy Plaskett is in the spotlight once more after being named by Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill to a select subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee announced by Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy shortly after taking the gavel.
The subcommittee, tasked with investigating the “weaponization” of the federal government ostensibly against conservative politicians, is expected to examine the conduct of, and decisions taken by, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice in their investigation into the January 6, 2021 insurrectionist riot at the Capitol, and into the dealings of former President Donald Trump.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries named Ms. Plaskett as the lead member on the panel for Democrats, meaning that she will spearhead Democratic efforts to push back on the idea that key federal agencies had been “weaponized”.
Ms. Plaskett's selection puts her in the spotlight once again, having garnered national attention by serving as one of the impeachment managers during Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate in 2021, following the Jan. 6th attack. The first delegate to ever serve in that capacity, the former prosecutor was adjudged by many to have performed admirably during that trial, laying out a case — alongside her former law professor, now colleague in the House Jamie Raskin — that many felt provided clear evidence of Trump’s involvement in, and encouragement of, efforts to disrupt the operations of Congress that day in an effort to subvert the peaceful transfer of power to now-president Joe Biden.
While Speaker McCarthy has ultimate decision making power over who sits on the select subcommittee, he has reportedly indicated that he would allow the Democrats to name the members of their choice.
Along with Ms. Plaskett, Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA), Gerry Coolly (VA), Dan Goldman (NY), Linda Sanchez (CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL), John Garamendi (CA), Collin Allred (TX) and Sylvia Garcia (TX) have all been tapped to serve on the subcommittee for Democrats.
Republicans will be represented by 12 members - Jim Jordan (OH) as subcommittee chair, Darrell Issa (CA), Thomas Massie (KY), Chris Stewart (UT), Elise Stefanik (NY), Mike Johnson (LA), Chip Roy (TX), Kelly Armstrong (ND), Greg Steube (FL), Dan Bishop (NC), Kat Cammack (FL), and Harriet Hageman (WY). Jordan, alongside several of his Republican colleagues on the committee, has consistently attacked and undermined the integrity of the general election of 2020, and downplayed the significance of the riot at the Capitol on January 6th.
Advertisements
