The congressional delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands slammed political opponents for releasing “personal photographs and a private family video” before a primary election.
Delegate Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat, confirmed the release of the pictures and video of her and her husband, which she said also showed one of her children, and said the images were stolen. She said that she is up for re-election in a primary in two weeks was “not being considered a coincidence.”
“The theft and distribution of these personal images via the Internet marks a new low in Virgin Islands politics. I am shocked and deeply saddened that someone would stoop to such a level as to invade my marriage and the love of my family in an attempt to besmirch me politically,” Plaskett said.
The Capitol Police and the FBI are investigating the release of the photos and video.
Plaskett, who does not have a vote in Congress as she represents a territory, is serving her first term in Congress. She won in a landslide in 2014 after being defeated in 2012.
She alluded to a conspiracy against her by political opponents because she “refuses to play their games.”
“This incident shows that there are some people who will go to any length to degrade a woman who refuses to play their games and will try to besmirch my good name by any means necessary,” she said.
“I have a message for the criminals who perpetrated these heinous acts: I will not go away. I know the people of our Virgin Islands are disgusted by individuals who would try to destroy families for political gain.”
