Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) found herself in an awkward moment during a Sunday interview on MSNBC when she claimed that former President Donald Trump “needs to be shot” over his alleged mishandling of classified documents. She quickly corrected herself, stating that he should be “stopped.”
“Having Trump not only have had the codes but now having the classified information for Americans and being able to put that out and share it in his resort with anyone and everyone who comes through should be terrifying to all Americans,” Plaskett said during an interview witb anchor Jonathan Capehart.
“And he needs to be shot—stopped,” she said.
Plaskett, a non-voting member of the House of Representatives, also dismissed claims of a “two-tiered system” of justice that led to Trump’s indictment.
Republicans pointed out that Hillary Clinton was not charged for retaining classified documents on a private email server while serving as secretary of state. Plaskett argued that GOP lawmakers were spreading “propaganda” to sow distrust in federal law enforcement and create a perception of being above the law.
After the incident, Plaskett released a statement clarifying her remarks and stating that she does not advocate for political violence or behavior that contradicts democratic principles.
“I wish former President Trump no ill will or harm, only that justice be served in his case as with every other American who must face penalties for wrongdoing. I do believe and did intend to say that he must be ‘stopped,’” she said.
Trump was recently arraigned in a Miami federal court on 37 counts related to allegedly withholding classified material and lying to federal officials about it. According to a 49-page indictment unsealed on June 9, the documents were stored in various locations at his Mar-a-Lago resort, including a ballroom, bathroom, bedroom, and basement storage room.
Trump refused to hand over the documents to the FBI or the Department of Justice for over a year. The indictment revealed that the documents contained sensitive defense information, which Trump allegedly showed to individuals without the required security clearances.
Plaskett has gained national attention in her role as the ranking member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Federal Government. She previously made headlines for threatening independent journalist Matt Taibbi with a potential five-year prison sentence for alleged lies during a hearing on the “Twitter Files.”
Additionally, Plaskett served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment, where he was charged with incitement of insurrection following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Ultimately, the Senate acquitted the former president.
