Critics are in an uproar over the California Democratic Party’s attempts to protect pedophile perpetrators from prosecution.
At issue is a proposed bill by state Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, a Democrat, to combat human trafficking.
The problem is that her fellow Democrats forced her to remove a clause from the bill that would have ensured that any adult who purchases sex from a 16-year-old or 17-year-old faces felony charges.
“In order to get a hearing on the bill, we were forced to remove the piece of the bill that ensures the crime of purchasing a minor for sex applies in all cases where the victim is under the age of 18,” she explained in a tweet published Monday.
Update on my bill #AB379: In order to get a hearing on the bill, we were forced to remove the piece of the bill that ensures the crime of purchasing a minor for sex applies in all cases where the victim is under the age of 18. I wholeheartedly disagree with that amendment. 1/3
— Maggy Krell (@maggykrell) April 29, 2025
This has been my life’s work and I will continue to partner with survivors and law enforcement to ensure all minors are protected from the horrors of sex trafficking.
— Maggy Krell (@maggykrell) April 29, 2025
But the current version of #AB379 still criminalizes the creeps who are loitering to buy teenagers for sex and sets up a fund to help victims. Those will be powerful tools in the fight against sex trafficking — it’s a good start.
— Maggy Krell (@maggykrell) April 29, 2025
According to Sacramento station KCRA, it was specifically the Democrats in the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee that blocked the clause.
The only good news, according to Krell, is that the bill “still criminalizes the creeps who are loitering to buy teenagers for sex and sets up a fund to help victims.”
All this comes a year after state Sen. Shannon Grove, a Republican, introduced a bill to make it a felony for an adult to purchase anyone under the age of 18 for sex.
Like Krell, Grove was also forced to back down.
“Grove and other lawmakers in the Senate and Assembly last year struck what Democrats called ‘a deal’ and Grove called ‘an ultimatum’ to allow the felony charge to only apply to those who purchase children under the age of 16 for sex,” KCRA notes.
“For those who purchase 16 and 17-year-olds, those criminals could face either a misdemeanor or felony, leaving it up to local prosecutors to decide. The law also requires the older teens to prove they’re being trafficked,” the reporting continues.
Grove wasn’t pleased.
“It’s completely evil,” she told KCRA.
Exciting news! SB 1414 passed off the Assembly Floor and is moving to the Senate for a final vote. SB 1414 addresses the lucrative crime of sex trafficking and would increase penalties for those who purchase children for sex.
I am beyond grateful this bill will charge predators… pic.twitter.com/6u7Vmm6Vl0
— Senator Shannon Grove (@ShannonGroveCA) August 31, 2024
Krell feels similarly about what’s happened to her bill.
“I was told that it was pulled, and the only way I could get it back on the agenda is if parts of the bill would be blocked,” she said to KCRA. “It’s a disgrace.”
“I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I’m not going to quit now. And I am going to bring this part of this bill back every year until I get the books to protect children. That’s what I’m going to do,” she added.
Republicans, meanwhile, remained stunned that there are people trying to protect adults who purchase sex from 16 and 17-year-olds.
It’s so sad and disgusting that this is even a debate over at the pro-criminal @CA_Dem. https://t.co/V5e6EcjHJH
— California Republican Party (@CAGOP) April 28, 2025
The public has also weighed in, arguing that the priorities of California’s Democrats (if not ALL Democrats) are very, very misplaced.
Look:
The fact the state legislature is debating this speaks volumes about the corruption and immorality in state government.
— Timm (@realTimmB) April 28, 2025
Here we go again….CalDem elites have blocked similar reforms in the past.
When will Californians say enough is enough.— Cal Bulldog (@calbulldog) April 28, 2025
Democrats are so grossly misaligned with California voters it’s insane to see.
Since when did democrats become pro-child trafficking?
— Manic (@626) April 28, 2025
Why would anyone internally argue over this? What do they see as the benefit in not making it a felony to purchase 16 or 17 year olds for sex? How does that make life better for their constituents?
— Christina Pascucci (@Pascucci2024) April 28, 2025
It is shameful that any elected representative in California would need to debate whether purchasing a child for sex should be a felony. Californians deserve to know which representatives oppose classifying this heinous act as a felony.
— Michael Jester (@MichaelJester) April 28, 2025
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Vivek@bizpacreview.com
V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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