Members of Congress are alleging that Republican leadership negotiated a deal that resulted in the failed censure vote against Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), who appeared in recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents.

The claims were made by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), both of whom say the agreement was designed to shield Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) during a separate ethics matter.

The Plaskett censure failed because house leadership exchanged that censure failure for the withdrawal of a vote to censure and refer Cory Mills to house ethics for investigation. The swamp protects itself.
pic.twitter.com/IvS47gWXne

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) November 19, 2025

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The censure resolution targeted Plaskett after documents showed Epstein fed her questions during a congressional hearing.

This is astonishing

During a congressional hearing Jeffrey Epstein was texting Congresswoman Plaskett. Feeding her question which she proceeded to ask.

I don’t even have wordspic.twitter.com/3CfjBN6YNb

— Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) November 15, 2025

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Several Republicans initially expected the measure to pass, given the GOP’s numerical advantage.

Instead, three Republicans voted against the resolution, three voted “present,” and others did not vote, causing the effort to fail.

FYI : The six Republicans who did not support the censure resolution against Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) were:

**Voted “No” (3):**
– Rep. Lance Gooden (TX)
– Rep. Don Bacon (NE)
– Rep. David Joyce (OH)

**Voted “Present” (3):**
– Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA)
– Rep. Dan Meuser (PA)
-… pic.twitter.com/FKGzZJ20xj

— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) November 19, 2025

Burchett released a video addressing the outcome.

He said, “Late vote series to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett. She’s the one that received a sizable contribution from Epstein, which apparently is legal. I’m not sure. But she is also the one who was texting with him during a committee hearing, getting instructions on how to better attack Trump, from Epstein sending her the texts.”

Burchett continued, “So she’s on some pretty powerful committees, and that just tells you how corrupt this place is. But the disgusting thing about it was, four Republicans chose not to vote. Three Republicans voted president — present, excuse me, and three Republicans voted no. So it failed. And what they did was, they cut a deal. They cut a deal on another ethics vote on a Republican, and that’s just wrong.”

Burchett said lawmakers should vote independently rather than engage in negotiations linked to unrelated cases.

“Everybody should just stand on their own. If it were truly, we don’t care whose party these sex offenders and all this other stuff are in, we’re going after them, then we start cutting deals. To me, it’s really disgusting. I get disgusted about some things, but this is one that’s really, really bad. You’ve got some people on there who are chairmen of committees and things like that, and that’s the kind of people we put in leadership. It’s bogus, and it stinks, and the first opportunity I get to speak to leadership I will give them a piece of my mind, and I doubt it will go anywhere, but they’re the most sewer-dwelling people, some of these folks, not all of them, but some of them are. It’s just disgusting. It really is.”

I am totally disgusted with this bunch of losers. pic.twitter.com/ws5EMmauCv

— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) November 19, 2025

According to Burchett and Luna, this is the second time Mills has benefitted from an internal deal.

The first involved a vote to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), which Mills opposed.

Omar made headlines in September after suggesting that the assassination of Charlie Kirk was justified.

Mills voted against censuring her.

Around that same period, reports surfaced regarding Mills’ marriage.

His wedding was officiated by Mohammed Al Hanooti, whom Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) described as an “Al-Qaeda mosque” leader.

Al Hanooti was an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

I met Cory Mills & thought he was great. Then I found his marriage certificate in March.

Mohammed Al Hanooti was the officiant at his wedding, he’s an unindicted co-conspirator of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. pic.twitter.com/JhadLoE7P3

— Jill Savage (@Jill_Savage) September 19, 2025

The revelation triggered questions among Republicans about Mills’ decision to protect Omar during the censure vote.

Mills’ personal conduct has also drawn scrutiny.

In October, an ex-girlfriend filed a restraining order against him, alleging blackmail and threats of violence.

SCOOP: After two public court hearings, a Florida judge has issued a restraining order against Rep. Cory Mills for “protection against dating violence.” Mills’s ex-girlfriend filed for the injunction in August, alleging sextortion & violent threats. More TK from the decision. pic.twitter.com/735hpLLG0a

— Roger Sollenberger (@SollenbergerRC) October 14, 2025

The most recent deal, according to Burchett and Luna, helped Mills avoid a separate ethics action, while allowing Plaskett — who was named in the Epstein documents — to avoid censure and committee removal.

Republican members critical of the decision say party leadership must explain why Mills’ protection took precedence, resulting in both Omar and Plaskett avoiding consequences.

Burchett said the party cannot claim to prioritize accountability while cutting agreements that prevent ethics actions from moving forward.

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