ST. CROIX — Delegate to Congress candidate Ronald Russell issued a statement late Thursday condemning the release of a video showing Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett recording her husband,\u00a0Jonathan Buckney-Small, who appeared naked, wearing eye shadow and lipstick, while their young daughter stood at the back of her father.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, I learned like many other people, that there is a video being circulated regarding Delegate Plaskett. I personally have never seen this video. However, I absolutely condemn this act,” Mr. Russell said. “Unfortunately, we have become a voyeuristic society, where things that are done in private are released willy-nilly on social media, with no sense of modesty.<\/p>\n
“In fact, I have been told that, in this week alone, approximately eight such videos have been released on social media. Neither me nor my campaign have anything to do with the release of this or any other video.\u201d<\/p>\n
The video showing Ms. Plaskett’s nude husband and the images of the congresswoman taking a topless selfie, prompted a statement from her office condemning the leak of what she described as a\u00a0\u201cprivate playful video,\u201d and assailed the perpetrators for what she deemed \u201ca new low in Virgin Islands politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Russell said he has experienced similar attacks from opponents during his years as a senator, but stressed that he had no role in the release of the video and images, which Ms. Plaskett said were taken from her computer after it was hacked by an unknown perpetrator.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have run and won my senatorial campaigns and have never had to resort to personal attacks, ever. In fact, I also have been the subject of this type of mean spirited attack and experienced what it did to my reputation and my family,” Mr. Russell said. “For that reason, I would never engage in such conduct. My grandmother raised me to have integrity and to always do the right thing. I would never disappoint her by stooping to such levels simply to win an election. My campaign is an issue-focused campaign; and those issues are discussed in my radio spots and on my social media sites. This is simply a huge distraction from the very serious issues facing this community.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her statement issued earlier today, Ms. Plaskett vehemently condemned the hacking of her computer and subsequent release of private material.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d\u00a0Ms. Plaskett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrivate photographs shared between my husband and me, as well as a private playful video of our family, including one of our children, were illegally obtained and disseminated via the internet. To say my family and I are greatly upset would be a tremendous understatement. As a mother I am outraged that one of my children was exploited in such a way. The theft and dissemination of these images via the internet is a shockingly disgusting invasion of my family\u2019s and my privacy \u2013 not to mention criminal acts in violation of both territorial and federal law,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The candidates are slated for a debate on August 2 on WTJX. Mr. Russell said he looked forward to discussing the issues, and said he was confident that an investigation would eventually yield the origin of the leaks.<\/p>\n