Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett.
V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett on Thursday welcomed the end of the New York civil case that had named her as a defendant, declaring the allegations “entirely baseless” and emphasizing her record of opposing sexual violence.
“Congresswoman Plaskett is grateful for this resolution and is continuing to dedicate her full attention to addressing the critical needs of Virgin Islands residents,” her statement began. She noted that throughout her career — as a New York prosecutor, at the U.S. Department of Justice, and now in Congress — she has maintained “an unwavering commitment to integrity, the rule of law, and advocacy for those most vulnerable.”
Plaskett said she has “consistently stood against sexual violence and the exploitation of women and children.” She said the case against her was “frivolous” and noted, “The frivolous case brought against the Congresswoman was completely dismissed without any settlement payment or any other agreement whatsoever. The outright dismissal of this case—without a single dollar paid or any form of settlement—shows that the claims asserted against Congresswoman Plaskett were entirely baseless and that Congresswoman Plaskett had no involvement in Epstein’s disgusting and abhorrent activities.”
She reiterated her condemnation of Jeffrey Epstein, stating that his actions against the plaintiffs and “countless other women were absolutely reprehensible.” She added that she hopes all of Epstein’s victims “receive the justice and closure they deserve” and said she continues to pray for their healing and recovery.
Her statement follows a filing in the Southern District of New York confirming that the civil case had been dismissed with prejudice. The stipulation, signed by Jordan Merson for the six anonymous plaintiffs and Eric Breslin for Ms. Plaskett, ends the matter permanently; a dismissal with prejudice is final and the case cannot be refiled.
The lawsuit was filed in November 2023 by six women identified as Jane Does 1 through 6, who alleged that deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise in the Virgin Islands was enabled by a network of current and former officials. The original defendants included the Government of the Virgin Islands, former Governors John de Jongh and Kenneth Mapp, former Attorney General Vincent Frazer, former Senators Celestino White and Carlton Dowe, and former First Lady Cecile de Jongh. In March 2025, Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed claims against those defendants, citing jurisdictional barriers and, in the case of Cecile de Jongh, an earlier legal release tied to Epstein’s estate.
That ruling left Ms. Plaskett as the lone remaining defendant. Judge Subramanian allowed negligence and alleged Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) claims against her to proceed, while dismissing RICO counts. Ms. Plaskett consistently denied the allegations, arguing that the plaintiffs failed to state a claim and that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over her. In an April response to the amended complaint, she invoked multiple defenses, including sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, statute of limitations, laches, and res judicata. Plaintiffs alleged she received financial and political support from Epstein—including a $30,000 loan and campaign contributions—in exchange for favorable political actions; the court ruled that certain allegations were plausible enough to warrant further proceedings, prompting months of litigation.
Signals of a resolution emerged in late summer. On August 22, counsel for both sides informed Judge Subramanian that the case “may be resolved shortly.” The court directed the parties to update it by August 28 on whether a settlement could be reached or else submit trial dates. The August 28 stipulation of dismissal with prejudice brought the litigation to a close without trial.
The dismissal concludes one of several civil cases that drew scrutiny to Virgin Islands officials over Epstein’s activities on Little St. James. With the SDNY filing, Ms. Plaskett—who had remained the sole defendant since March—is no longer facing claims tied to Epstein’s alleged crimes in the territory.
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