Hakeem Jeffries Avoids Answering if It Was Appropriate for Stacey Plaskett to Be Messaging Jeffrey Epstein

Collins: “Thank you, sir, for being here. Obviously, a lot of movement up on Capitol Hill today. And you heard Stacey Plaskett there. She was arguing her texts with Jeffrey Epstein were not illegal. But in your view, were they appropriate?”
Jeffries: “Well, Stacey Plaskett is not accused of violating any House rule, any law, any statute. And she‘s clearly and unequivocally denounced Jeffrey Epstein. And I think what the survivors fought for today is the type of transparency that came out of the House, went through the Senate, and is now on its way to Donald Trump‘s desk, where hopefully he will sign it into law, because at the end of the day, all the American people are asking for is just the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, which is why these Epstein files that Donald Trump and his administration have been hiding for months need to be released.
Collins: “But do you think it was appropriate for her to be texting with Jeffrey Epstein, 11 years after he pleaded guilty to — “
Jeffries: “I mean, I have not had a conversation with Stacey Plaskett to discuss this issue because we‘ve been focused today on making sure that there was a decisive vote as it related to the Epstein files and the release. I‘m thankful for the work of Representative Massie, of Ro Khanna, but most importantly, the survivors.”
Collins: “Do you plan to talk to her about it?”
Jeffries: “I think that we successfully defeated a resolution that lacked any basis, was uncredible — was not credible and was being brought by an individual who was trying to weaponize this issue to reinvigorate his own failed gubernatorial campaign in South Carolina. It was rejected on a bipartisan basis on the floor today. That‘s the end of the story.”
Collins: “Yeah, I was just asking if you personally believe messaging with Jeffrey Epstein, who is at that point a registered sex offender is is appropriate for a member of the House Democratic caucus?”
Jeffries: “That‘s the third time you‘ve asked me this question, and I‘m going to give you the same exact answer. Our focus today is on making sure that the Jeffrey Epstein files were released. If you want to have a conversation with Stacey Plaskett about it, I‘m sure she‘d be willing to talk to you. It was an illegitimate effort to try to remove her from the House Committee on Intelligence, and that was defeated in a bipartisan way.”