Stacey Plaskett: House representative makes history at Senate impeachment trial

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“This is a particularly proud moment for me,” said the Democratic convener from Maryland, noting that Plaskett was “the first ever representative on a team of impeachment managers in American history. “
Plaskett, who has been under scrutiny during an impeachment lawsuit as one of the House managers explains the case against the former President, in her fourth term represents the U.S. Virgin Islands conference area, according to her House webpage.
Plaskett is a representative because she represents the U.S. constituency rather than the state, so she cannot cast votes on the floor of the House. That means she could not vote to impeach Trump when the entire house took that step in January. But Plaskett is now acting as a prosecutor against the former president during the Senate lawsuit, in which House impeachment managers have argued that Trump incited rebellion. out at the Capitol and that they are urging the Senate to condemn him.

She is one of nine impeachment managers – all House Democrats – on whom the House case was presented to grandparents, who are jurors during the trial.

Plaskett has prior experience of prosecution. Prior to her election to Congress, she was an assistant district assistant to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and a senior advisor to the U.S. Department of Justice. She was also a general counsel for the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority.

She talked a bit about her personal and professional approach Wednesday before submitting her arguments at the trial.

“I’ve learned all my life that preparation and truth can take you a long time, that you can speak truth to power. I’ve learned as a young Black girl growing up in the projects in Brooklyn, a housing community on St. Croix, sent to the most unpleasant situations and now as an adult woman representing an island area speaks to the U.S. Senate, “Plaskett said.

Plaskett is not the only representative in the House. DC Del. Perhaps the most famous is Eleanor Holmes Norton. According to the House of Representatives website, “Currently, five representatives represent the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A resident commissioner represents Puerto Rico, and a residential commissioner has the same powers as other members of the House, except that they may not vote when the House meets with the House of Representatives. “

Representatives have been members of the House of Representatives for centuries. A report from the Congressional Investigation Service notes that “representatives, representing areas that had not yet achieved statehood, have served in the House since the late 1700s. In the 20th century, the concept of delegations to include the representation of districts off the United States. using a measure of control but not intended to be states. “

In addition to his role in history as a representative on the impeachment team, Plaskett is a student of Raskin, who was a professor of constitutional law before being elected to Congress.

Raskin said Wednesday while introducing Plaskett that she was “also my law student at the University of America Washington College of Law.”

He said, “I hope I don’t break any federal education records, laws, when I say she was a student then and she’s an A + student now.”

CNN’s Maureen Chowdhury and Janie Boschma contributed to this report.

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