Arizona’s Andy Biggs Under Scrutiny for Votes Against Sex Trafficking Legislation
Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, who is now running as the Republican candidate for governor, previously opposed a notable bill aimed at addressing online sex trafficking. The incumbent he will challenge in the upcoming election is Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.
In 2018, Biggs was among a minority of lawmakers who voted against the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act. This legislation aimed to empower state authorities to take legal action against websites facilitating sex trafficking and to establish new federal penalties for online promotion of prostitution.
The bill garnered widespread support across party lines, ultimately passing both the House and Senate. It was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump and received backing from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Biggs has faced criticism in the past for actions perceived as insufficient in protecting victims of sexual abuse. Notably, in 2013 during his tenure in the Arizona Senate, he halted efforts to dismantle a local police department accused of shielding a religious sect involved in the abuse of young girls.
Additionally, Biggs initially voted in committee to stop the release of Justice Department documents related to the investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, he later voted in favor of making those files public when the issue was brought to a floor vote.
Rep. David Schweikert, a contender against Biggs in the Republican gubernatorial primary, criticized him in June for his history of “voting against protecting our children from really, really bad actors.”
A poll conducted by the Terrance Group in July indicated that Gov. Hobbs held a four-point lead over Biggs.
The post Andy Biggs opposed online sex trafficking law appeared first on American Journal News.
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