Jon Husted, current candidate for the U.S. Senate, previously made headlines in 2006 when he led the Ohio House of Representatives. During his tenure, he significantly altered a bill aimed at aiding survivors of sexual abuse by clergy members.
Recently, Husted has faced scrutiny over campaign contributions from a Jeffrey Epstein associate and connections to a campaign chair with a history of alleged misconduct involving a minor. These issues have contributed to perceptions of Husted as being lenient towards those accused of sexual misconduct.
Back in March 2006, the Ohio Senate approved SB 17, a clergy abuse bill spearheaded by Democratic state Sen. Teresa Fedor. This legislation was introduced in response to widespread allegations of abuse by Catholic clergy. Key reforms included mandatory reporting of child abuse by clergy members, broadening the definition of sexual battery, and a one-year window allowing victims to pursue civil damages beyond the 35-year statute of limitations.
The Catholic Conference of Ohio, representing the state’s bishops, opposed the bill, particularly the civil window provision, arguing that it would challenge the church’s ability to defend against old allegations.
As House speaker, Husted, who is Roman Catholic, played a pivotal role in removing the civil window provision. Instead, the bill was modified to include an online registry for clergy members found guilty of sexual abuse in civil court.
Barbara Blaine, an advocate for survivors of priest abuse, expressed her disappointment with Husted, accusing him of succumbing to pressure from the Catholic Conference of Ohio.
On the day of the House vote on the revised SB 17, survivors of abuse gathered at the state Capitol, each holding a photograph of themselves as children during the time of their abuse. Many Republican lawmakers reportedly avoided the confrontation by entering the chamber through alternative routes.
The final version of the bill was passed with overwhelming support.
Husted’s involvement in limiting legal recourse for abuse survivors was not a one-time event. In 2004, he supported a tort reform law that placed a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages for sexual abuse victims, a move that the Ohio Capital Journal noted in 2021 had deprived child rape victims of significant legal compensation.
Appointed to the U.S. Senate last year to succeed Vice President J.D. Vance, Husted is set to contend with former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in the upcoming general election.
The post Husted gutted Ohio clergy abuse bill as House Speaker appeared first on American Journal News.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
