Overview
- The effort to censure Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee failed 209–214, with three Republicans voting no and three voting present.
- The resolution, introduced by Rep. Ralph Norman, sought to strip her committee assignment and to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee.
- Earlier in the day, the House approved a measure directing the Justice Department to release files from its Epstein investigation.
- The push followed Oversight Committee releases of estate records showing Epstein texting Plaskett during the 2019 Michael Cohen hearing, including compliments and a "Good work" message.
- Plaskett defended the contacts by calling Epstein a constituent from whom she sought information, while Republicans cited her past donations from him and referenced a 2023 lawsuit that was later dismissed.