It was an iconic moment in Washington, D.C., back in 2019. The spotlight was on Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as he testified before a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives about his former employer. Stacey Plaskett, a Democratic member of the committee, was seen texting on camera. This week, the identity of her text correspondence was revealed as none other than the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Subpoenaed emails from his estate showed Epstein urged her to inquire about a Trump Organization employee, to which Plaskett complied, earning Epstein's approval with a 'Good Work' text.
The incident underscores the notable influence the late financier wielded among Americaâs affluent circles. Plaskett, who represents the U.S. Virgin Islands, dismissed claims she sought Epsteinâs counsel, asserting she was messaging many individuals that day, including Epstein, a constituent. As a former attorney, she sought information from various sources, even if they were personally unsavory. 'I am disgusted by Epstein's deviant behavior. I strongly support his victims and admire their courage. I have long believed and supported that the entire Epstein files be released,' she told the BBC. She clarified that their interaction occurred prior to his arrest on sex trafficking charges, albeit post his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution. His private island in her jurisdiction had already been implicated in a Miami Herald report as a site of underage abuse.
Six months post her exchange, Epstein was found dead in his prison cell, with a medical examiner declaring suicide. His demise and the ensuing conspiracy theories provoked a reckoning, sending shockwaves through Washington, Wall Street, and taking down several of his associates.
Their interaction is only one in a newly uncovered cache of over 20,000 pages of personal documents, reiterating Epsteinâs talent in nurturing elite connections even after his legal troubles and media exposĂ©. The resilience of these relationships, when others severed their ties, reveals both the solidarity within high echelon social networks and the reach of Epsteinâs sway.
'He was a diabolical monster,' commented Barry Levine, author of The Spider: Inside the Criminal Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. 'But he was also exceptionally shrewd, managing to sustain an extraordinary network of powerful global figures. His charisma placed him in a position where people relied on him.'
Epstein perceived himself as a 'people collector,' engaging with others for potentially transactional benefits, Levine noted. 'He aimed to extract favors, finances, or more sinisterly, possible blackmail from these individuals with the intel he amassed.'
The connection between Epstein and Lord Peter Mandelson, in particular, has aroused scrutiny in the UK. Mandelson was eventually dismissed as the UK's ambassador to the US in September. Congressional documents reveal Mandelson maintained correspondence with Epstein until late 2016, preceding the Herald investigation but post his conviction.