NEW Report: “Biggs Opposed 2005 Law Targeting Child Sex Traffickers”

NEW Report: "Biggs Opposed 2005 Law Targeting Child Sex Traffickers"

New reporting from American Journal News reveals that Andy Biggs was "one of only four legislators to vote against" legislation designed to protect child victims of sex trafficking.

The bipartisan bill that was ultimately signed into law "reclassified sex trafficking of a victim under the age of 15 as a 'dangerous crime against children' and established a 20-year presumptive prison sentence for first-time offenders. It also established a 30-year sentence for subsequent offenses."

Biggs voted no and "did not provide a formal explanation of why."

This disturbing vote is the latest in a long "pattern of failing to stand with sexual assault victims [that] has become a significant issue in the race" for Arizona governor.

As Arizona Senate president, Biggs blocked bipartisan legislation that could have protected women and children who were trapped in a predatory cult that was "forcing girls into underage marriage" and "sexually abusing girls," as young as 12 years old. When pressed on his vote last month, Biggs claimed he "knew what was going on." Biggs was also one of three state lawmakers to oppose legislation that would have "required registered sex offenders relocating to Arizona to re-register in the state" and one of only two Republicans on a House Oversight Subcommittee to vote against releasing the Epstein files.

Read more about Biggs' record of standing with predators:

American Journal News: Biggs opposed 2005 law targeting child sex traffickers

• Twenty years ago, Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs voted against an anti-sex trafficking law designed to protect children.

• Biggs is now his state's Republican nominee for governor. His alleged pattern of failing to stand with sexual assault victims has become a significant issue in the race.

• In 2005, when he was serving in the Arizona House, Biggs was one of only four legislators to vote against SB 1338. The bill reclassified sex trafficking of a victim under the age of 15 as a "dangerous crime against children" and established a 20-year presumptive prison sentence for first-time offenders. It also established a 30-year sentence for subsequent offenses.

• Biggs did not provide a formal explanation of why he opposed the bill.

• Biggs has already come under fire for similar votes. That same year, he voted against a bipartisan bill requiring sex offenders moving to Arizona to re-register in the state. In 2007, he was the lone committee vote against a law toughening penalties for child prostitution.
• In 2013, when Biggs was leading the Arizona Senate, he blocked a bipartisan push to shut down a local police force that was allegedly protecting an extremist religious sect accused of abusing young girls.
• This pattern continued when Biggs joined Congress in 2017. In 2018, he opposed a bipartisan bill cracking down on online sex trafficking. The legislation had broad bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Donald Trump.

• Last year, Biggs voted in committee to block the release of Justice Department files related to the investigation of sex predator Jeffrey Epstein.

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