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Blumenthal and Portman to Host Anti-Trafficking Advocates at State of the Union

[WASHINGTON, DC] – The lead co-sponsors of the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA), U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rob Portman (R-OH), announced today that they will be joined at next week’s State of the Union by Theresa Leonard, a survivor of child sex-trafficking, and Jay McDonald, President of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and National Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). SESTA is a narrowly crafted, bipartisan bill that would ensure that websites that facilitate sex trafficking can be held liable and brought to justice.

Ms. Leonard, a resident of East Hampton, Connecticut was sold for sex when she was only ten-years-old. She is now the co-founder of the Operation Underground Railroad, a church-based organization that fights sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

“Theresa Leonard is a courageous survivor of horrific sex trafficking and a beacon of hope for justice. My colleagues who hear her story should vote to pass bipartisan legislation to stop websites from facilitating sex trafficking. With 67 cosponsors, this legislation should pass soon in this session so that others will be spared the kind of suffering that Theresa has endured. She has shed the shadows and her courage will help stop internet sites from shirking responsibility and enabling these pernicious crimes,” Blumenthal said.

Jay McDonald is the National Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Jay is an active member of the Marion, Ohio police department, where he currently is a Major, assigned as the Commander of the Investigations Bureau where he leads a major crime unit and a county-wide drug task force.

“Jay is a good friend and a terrific ambassador for law enforcement across the state of Ohio, and I’m pleased that he will be joining me for the State of the Union,” said Portman. “As a member of law enforcement, Jay has been an important partner on a host of issues, including helping our efforts to stop online sex trafficking that is tragically increasing in Ohio and across the country. That’s why the National FOP has endorsed my Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act so that we can hold accountable websites that are knowingly facilitating sex trafficking of women and children while ensuring that victims can get the justice they deserve. I’ve also been proud to partner with him to combat the all too pervasive opioid epidemic which is killing approximately 11 Ohioans a day.  I look forward to continuing to work closely together with him to ensure that all Ohioans can reach their God-given potential.”

As the Senators’ guests, Ms. Leonard and Mr. McDonald will witness the State of the Union address and accompany Blumenthal and Portman to the Secretary of the Senate’s dinner, where they will have the opportunity to share their experiences combating sex trafficking directly with Senators and their spouses. Media interested in conducting interviews with Ms. Leonard or Mr. McDonald should contact Maria McElwain in Senator Blumenthal’s office (202-224-6452) or Kevin Smith in Senator Portman’s office (202-224-5190).

“I am humbled and honored to be Senator Blumenthal’s guest for the State of the Union. It’s a privilege to have elected officials who not only advocate on behalf of survivors of trafficking, but who also listen to our stories and allow our voices to be heard. I hope that the other lawmakers in our nation will stand up for trafficking survivors and allow them to seek justice against websites that facilitate their victimization,” Theresa Leonard said.

“I look forward to attending the State of the Union address Tuesday night, and I want to thank Rob for the invitation.  The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and National Fraternal Order of Police will continue to partner with Senator Portman and other members of Congress to protect women and children from sex trafficking and combat the prescription drug and opioid epidemic to ensure the safety and security of all Ohioans and Americans,” said Jay McDonald, President of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and Vice President of the National Fraternal Order of Police.

SESTA was approved in the Commerce Committee by a voice vote with no opposition in November and is co-sponsored by 67 members of the Senate. The legislation would clarify Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to ensure that websites that knowingly facilitate sex trafficking can be held liable so that victims can get justice. The bipartisan bill would:

  • Allow victims of sex trafficking to seek justice against websites that knowingly facilitated the crimes against them;
  • Eliminate federal liability protections for websites that assist, support, or facilitate a violation of federal sex trafficking laws; and
  • Enable state law enforcement officials, not just the federal Department of Justice, to take action against individuals or businesses that violate federal sex trafficking laws.

A full summary of the bill can be found here, a summary on why the bill is necessary is here, a section by section here, and the text here. 

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