In a narrow decision on Tuesday night, the House of Representatives voted 209-214 against a measure to formally reprimand Delegate Stacey Plaskett for her communications with the late Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 Oversight Committee hearing. The vote saw a rare alignment with three Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition, and another trio of Republicans choosing to vote present.

The controversy began when documents from Epstein's estate surfaced, revealing text exchanges between Plaskett and Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Plaskett has vigorously defended her actions, asserting that her interactions were strictly professional, aimed at gathering information from Epstein, who was a constituent at the time. On the House floor, she emphasized her background in legal investigations, stating, "I know how to question individuals. I know how to seek information from various sources because I want the truth."

Republicans, led by Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), argued that Plaskett's correspondence with Epstein influenced her questioning during the hearing, a claim she denies. Norman, who expedited the censure motion via a fast-track process, argued, “Standing against a convicted predator's influence in our proceedings is not partisan. It's basic decency.”

The motion not only sought to censure Plaskett but also aimed to strip her of her position on the House Intelligence Committee. This proposed removal was deemed excessive by some lawmakers, possibly influencing the outcome of the vote. The debate over Plaskett's role comes in the context of previous actions by House Republicans, who last Congress removed Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The same day witnessed another related vote, with the House nearly unanimously directing the Department of Justice to release more files related to its case against Epstein, highlighting the ongoing controversy and division within Congress and among the MAGA base.

In response to the failed censure against Plaskett, Democrats have launched a countermeasure seeking to censure Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and remove him from the House Armed Services Committee due to various ethical concerns. The future of this measure remains uncertain, reflecting the heightened tensions and partisan struggles within the House.