A group of prominent Virgin Islands attorneys has come to the defense of Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, calling the claims made against her in the Jane Doe civil suit connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case “factually impossible” and promising that the allegations “will ultimately prove not to be based on facts.”
In an open letter released this week, 17 members of the V.I. Bar Association emphasized their support for Plaskett and criticized what they described as “speculation from those with no legal background” following a federal judge’s decision last week to dismiss claims against all other named defendants in the case — except Plaskett.
“The recent judge’s order was not a determination of whether or not anyone could ever be found liable,” the letter read. “The order was based on technical arguments of jurisdiction and prior settlements — not facts. Judge Subramanian indeed indicated he looked forward to hearing Plaskett’s arguments on the facts.”
That opportunity is one Plaskett’s legal team says they welcome.
In a separate statement issued earlier this week by her attorney Eric R. Breslin, Plaskett’s defense struck a more combative tone, calling the lawsuit “baseless and frivolous,” and asserting that the remaining allegation — a single count — will not hold up under factual scrutiny.
“We are actually excited by the opportunity the judge has given us,” Breslin said. “It will allow us to show, through the court, that the allegation against her should be dismissed not simply through a technicality but because the allegation is wrong, false, and frankly not supported by the facts.”
The remaining claim accuses Plaskett of facilitating Epstein’s influence through campaign donations in exchange for tax benefits — a charge Breslin flatly denies. He emphasized that Plaskett neither had the power to grant such benefits nor was in office when they were approved. He added that the allegations were part of a broader effort by the plaintiffs’ attorneys to “fabricate facts and insinuations for a payday for themselves at the expense of the Congresswoman.”
The case — Jane Does 1-6 v. Government of the Virgin Islands, et al. — was filed in the Southern District of New York late last year. In a ruling last week, Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed all claims against former Governors Kenneth Mapp and John de Jongh, former First Lady Cecile de Jongh, former Attorney General Vincent Frazer, Senators Celestino White and Carlton Dowe, and the Government of the Virgin Islands itself, largely on the grounds of a lack of jurisdiction or previous settlements.
With those dismissals, Plaskett is the last remaining defendant in the case — a fact that now shifts the spotlight squarely onto her and her legal team.
According to court documents filed Monday, Plaskett has retained a new attorney, Jillian Dreusike of the national firm Duane Morris LLP, to represent her moving forward. Dreusike formally entered her appearance in the case on March 25, signaling the start of the next phase of litigation.
“We look forward to showing everyone, once again, that the accusations against Stacey are nothing more than a fabrication,” Breslin said.
Though the allegations have yet to be tested in court, Judge Subramanian noted in his order that he is giving the plaintiffs the chance to proceed to discovery — the stage at which both sides will be required to present evidence supporting their claims.
Supporters of Plaskett, including the V.I. attorneys who signed Saturday’s letter, say that is exactly what they want.
“Not one of these unproven allegations should overshadow her tireless work for the people of the Virgin Islands,” the letter stated. “We stand by Delegate Plaskett, the rule of law, and the impartial process, which will surely find, in the near future, that this lawsuit cannot stand.”
