House Republicans Fail to Censure Stacey Plaskett

House Republicans were unable to censure Stacey Plaskett, a Democratic representative from the U.S. Virgin Islands, despite claims that a deal was struck to protect another member from censure, according to several GOP members.

South Carolina Republican Congressman Ralph Norman put forth a resolution aimed at censuring Plaskett after documents surfaced indicating she had engaged with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during her Congressional duties. Following this, House Democrats retaliated by targeting Florida’s Republican Rep. Corey Mills. However, the effort to censure Plaskett ultimately failed with a vote tally of 209 to 214, where three Republicans chose to vote in favor of Plaskett, leading Democrats to withdraw their resolution.

Several members of the House GOP accused Speaker Mike Johnson of reaching a compromise with Democrats to shield Mills from censure. Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna expressed on social media that Republican leadership “switched votes to protect Republicans who have a lot of problems.”

Attempts to reach Johnson for comments were unsuccessful before publication.

In a related situation, Mills found himself facing accusations regarding preferential treatment, as he was among four Republicans voting against a resolution co-sponsored by another South Carolina representative, Nancy Mace, criticizing Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Around the same time, similar retaliatory threats emerged from House Democrats regarding Mills.

Mills has drawn scrutiny for various controversies, including allegations of sextortion, claims of stolen valor, and suspicions surrounding his financial practices—all of which he denies.

His ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Langston, a former Miss United States, reportedly sought a restraining order against Mills, alleging he threatened to release a private video of her. These and other claims have raised questions about Mills’ honesty regarding his military background.

Notably, Mills is also facing scrutiny over allegations of financial misconduct, linked to his high-cost living arrangements in Washington, D.C., where his penthouse rent is purportedly over $20,800 a month. He has reportedly struggled with paying several months of rent.

After the failed vote, Republican representatives—including Kat Cammack and Tim Burchett—accused House leaders of mishandling the Plaskett situation to safeguard colleagues facing ethics challenges themselves.

I’m completely disgusted with this bunch of losers.

Another Republican, Tim Burchett, criticized the vote outcome as a misguided attempt to protect certain members. He emphasized that the decision to censure Plaskett was meant to hold members accountable and that avoiding such decisions erodes trust in the House.

In previous months, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called out Speaker Mike Johnson for his management of Mills, questioning why actions taken against expelled member George Santos were not mirrored in Mills’ case.

Mace is currently working on a resolution to censure Mills, demanding his removal from both the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, with House leaders needing to decide by Friday.

Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, Republicans are holding a narrow majority in the House, adding pressure on them to navigate these challenges carefully. Additionally, redistricting discussions in Florida are set to begin next month, with some speculating it might affect how members vote on sensitive issues like the Plaskett resolution.

In light of the potential shifts and pressures, Hoffman of the Young Republicans suggested that the upcoming redistricting could influence Republican decisions on the matter of censure.

Attempts to get comments from several involved representatives went unanswered before the publication.