Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett.
Following recent revelations regarding ties between leaders of the U.S. Virgin Islands and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as uncovered in the blockbuster USVI v. JP Morgan lawsuit, Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett has stepped forward to address her alleged interactions with Epstein.
In the lawsuit, JPMorgan attorneys have exposed concerning details about the close relationships some of the territory's leaders maintained with Epstein. These revelations have led to speculation and suspicion about their potential involvement with Epstein's illicit activities. In an effort to clear the air, Plaskett appeared on a radio show "Analyze This" this week hosted by former Senator Neville James on WTJX FM.
The attorneys for JPMorgan claim that Epstein donated to Plaskett's campaign and in return, she personally visited his Manhattan townhouse for a meeting less than a year before Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. They also allege that other territorial officials met with Epstein.
Plaskett expressed her disgust at Epstein's actions and the impact they have had on the Virgin Islands. She was forthright about her past involvement with Epstein, admitting that she had accepted a campaign donation from him. However, Plaskett insists that she was unaware of this contribution until it was revealed by the media through her campaign's federal filing.
"Epstein was a reprehensible person and I'm truly disgusted by his actions," Plaskett stated. "I regret accepting that campaign contribution, but at the time I was unaware that my campaign had received it."
Once the extent of Epstein's crimes came to light, Plaskett said she took action. She declared that the money her campaign received from Epstein was donated to Virgin Islands organizations dedicated to supporting women and children.
"We used the funds he had given to us to support organizations in the Virgin Islands focused on women and children," Plaskett said, emphasizing that she is the only recipient of Epstein's campaign contributions who has redistributed the money.
Despite the pressures of raising funds for her campaign and party, Plaskett maintained she had never leveraged her position to aid Epstein's business or illegal activities. She pledged to fully cooperate with ongoing investigations and depositions.
"I have never done anything for Epstein nor used my position to support his business or any of his activities," she stated. "I was the first person to be deposed because I have nothing to hide."
Plaskett acknowledged a "bad fundraising decision" but distanced herself from any involvement or support for Epstein's illegal actions. She ended by urging the Virgin Islands community and the broader public to focus their outrage on the abuse of underage girls by Epstein and others.
"We need to have a larger conversation about protecting our children," she said. "If people have facilitated anything illegal or used their position wrongly, they should be investigated by the appropriate authorities."
