Blumenthal Announces Theresa Leonard, Child Sex-Trafficking Survivor, as Guest for State of the Union

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced today that East Hampton resident Theresa Leonard, co-founder of the Underground and survivor of child sex-trafficking will be his guest to the President’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 30. Her attendance comes as the Senate is poised to pass bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Blumenthal and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to ensure that websites that facilitate sex trafficking can be held liable and brought to justice.

“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.

“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,” Leonard said.

As Senator Blumenthal’s guest, Theresa Leonard will witness the State of the Union address, as well as accompany Senator Blumenthal to a Senate dinner where she will have the opportunity to share her story directly with Senators and their spouses.

The bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act 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. This narrowly-crafted legislation offers three reforms to help sex trafficking victims. 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.