Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Stacey E. Plaskett captivates America @ Impeachment Trial

Stacey E. Plaskett captivates America @ Impeachment Trial

The nine House Democrats serving as impeachment managers in the case against former President Donald J. Trump delivered their most gripping evidence for convicting Mr Trump in the Senate chamber Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

Never-before-seen video footage of the siege on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, that left multiple people dead, captured America's attention as millions watched in shock.

Emotions ran high in the chamber and across America and its territories, as footage showed employees of the Senate and House being whisked away to safety; footage also showed the heroism of Capitol Hill police; and, terrifyingly, the insurrectionists' storming of the nation's most sacred halls of democracy.

Never-before-seen video footage of the siege on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, that left multiple people dead, captured America's attention as millions watched in shock.


Captivating presentation


Standing out among the Democrats leading the impeachment charge was Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett, the congresswoman hailing from the US Virgin Islands. Her sharp delivery, no-nonsense demeanour accompanied by raw video footage of the attack on the Capitol, captivated America. Ms Plaskett's rebuke of Mr Trump was unequivocal and damning; her expression also matched the seriousness of the moment.

"Mr President, distinguished senators, I am Stacey Plaskett, I represent the people of the Virgin Islands of the United States," Ms Plaskett stated proudly as she readied herself to deliver. The congresswoman tailored her presentation to include video footage of the attack followed by biting condemnation of the former president. She spoke of the insurrectionists who broke through the Capitol in hunt of the powerful House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Vice President Mike Pence, both performing their Constitutional duty to ascertain that the 2020 General Election was certified.

"They were put in danger because President Trump put his own desires, his own need for power, over his duty to the Constitution and our democratic process," Ms Plaskett condemned. "President Trump put a target on their backs and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down."

The congresswoman recalled the 9/11 attack on America, particularly when the crew of Flight 93 sought to takeover the plane that was being controlled by terrorists, in an effort to foil an attack on the Capitol. “Those Americans sacrificed their lives for love of country, honour, duty—all things that America means. The Capitol stands because of people like that,” she said. “This Capitol that was conceived by our founding fathers, that was built by slaves, that remains through the sacrifice of servicemen and women around the world, and when I think of that, and I think of these insurgents, these images incited by our own president of the United States.”

The nine House Democrats serving as impeachment managers in the case against former President Donald J. Trump delivered their most gripping evidence for convicting Mr Trump in the Senate chamber Wednesday, February 10, 2021.


Plaskett the breakout star?


The delegate to Congress's performance catapulted to the forefront of some of America's top media houses, among them the Washington Post, which in a story titled, 'Stacey Plaskett, a House Delegate Who Couldn't Vote to Impeach Trump, is Using Her Prosecutorial Background to Try to Convict Him', wrote, "The chilling, unseen footage of a riotous mob storming through the US Capitol intent on killing Vice President Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was presented to senators by a nonvoting member of Congress from the Virgin Islands."

Vogue wondered whether Ms Plaskett was the "breakout star" of the impeachment trial; NPR recognized the congresswoman's limited power in Congress and wrote that she made history Wednesday when she became "the first nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives to serve as an impeachment manager." Occupy Democrats, a Facebook page with nearly 9 million followers, praised Ms Plaskett's performance and included an image of the congresswoman on its platform that has since gone viral with over 3,700 shares. A post accompanying the image read, "BRAVO! Delegate Stacey Plaskett did an AMAZING job of laying out a POWERFUL case for Trump's impeachment today!"

In this image from video, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is presiding over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, swears in members of the Senate for the impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol.


USVI proud!


The praises and sense of pride were loud at home as well. If you're on social media, more pointedly Facebook, you couldn't scroll too far before seeing a friend, acquaintance or politician lauding Ms Plaskett.

"Women it’s okay to celebrate other women. Madam Delegate you did an awesome job! We are proud to call you ours!," wrote Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory.

Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr also commented. "Represent! Awesome job Delegate!! We are proud!," he wrote, sharing a screenshot of the delegate's performance.

Ms Plaskett's delivery was one of someone who knew the importance of the moment. As a delegate to Congress, she has no voting power, and the people she represents — many of whom have served in the Armed Forces and have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country — cannot vote for president, and do not enjoy the wide range of benefits as Americans living in the states. Ms Plaskett has long advocated for parity, with her most recent engagement on the matter being an Op-Ed released to local media titled, "Disenfranchisement on Display". In it, she said, "There is, however, still a very troubling reality that continuously exist for the 4 million Americans who live in US territories—second-class citizenship and the lack of the right to vote for the US President. Deeply rooted in the fabric of the stilted development of territories like my home, the US Virgin Islands, are a series of decisions made by the US Supreme Court between 1901 and 1905, known as the Insular Cases."

But there she was on Wednesday, delivering a stinging rebuke against a former president while millions of Americans watched, her title emblazoned on screens as the Congresswoman from the US Virgin Islands.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×