Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Michael J. McQuerry
September 28, 2021                                                        202-215-8524

Press Statement

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ANNOUNCES NOMINATION OF NEW U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement regarding the White House nomination of the U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Virgin Islands:

“I am very pleased to announce the nomination by President Biden of Ms. Delia Smith to the post of U.S. Attorney of the U.S. Virgin Islands. A native St. Johnian, Ms. Smith has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Virgin Islands for several years. Her journey to this moment truly shows her tremendous strength and integrity that will serve our country and the people of the Virgin Islands well. Ms. Smith attended the University of the Virgin Islands while working and taking care of a young child as a single mother. She then went on to graduate from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and upon graduation from law school, clerked for Judge Ishmael Myers in the Virgin Islands. Interestingly, Ms. Smith worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Virgin Islands as a secretary while she was an undergraduate student at UVI.

“I am tremendously proud to have put forward Ms. Smith’s name for the position of U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands. Ms. Smith has received awards for her work and integrity in the U.S. Attorneys office. She has tried numerous cases and has worked tirelessly to stamp out drug trafficking in the Virgin Islands as the lead coordinator for the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Having a Virgin Islander who has made her career in public service and defending our home from the scourge of drugs and crime means a great deal. I think we all recognize the importance of seeing a woman, a Caribbean woman, a native daughter of this caliber agreeing to serve our nation and the Virgin Islands in this role during this time. 

“I want to once again thank President Biden for this nomination and keeping his promise that his administration will look like America and recognizing that our diversity is our strength. Ms. Smith, her husband, and her family have my genuine and hearty congratulations on this honor. I look forward to supporting her through the confirmation process and to the work that she and her team will get done during her tenure.”

###