The recent actions by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) to remove crucial information about child sex trafficking from its webpage have raised serious concerns among conservatives. The DOJ’s decision to alter the “Citizen’s Guide to U.S. Federal Law on Child Sex Trafficking” comes on the heels of a separate report revealing the removal of “international sex trafficking of minors” from another DOJ website.
Conservatives view these changes as deeply troubling, as they appear to downplay the severity and complexity of child sex trafficking. The DOJ’s website, which was previously comprehensive in detailing various U.S. code statutes related to sex trafficking, now only mentions one statute—18 U.S.C § 1591, which addresses sex trafficking of children through force, fraud, or coercion. The removal of nearly 350 words outlining the specifics of the other statutes, especially those addressing international and cross-border trafficking, has only added to conservatives’ concerns.
One of the removed paragraphs discussed the application of Section 1591 to American children and foreign nationals brought into the United States for prostitution. The DOJ’s decision to erase this information raises questions about their commitment to addressing the full scope of child sex trafficking, regardless of the victims’ nationality.
Moreover, the deletion of text discussing the criminality of prostituting children and engaging in sexual activity with minors is deeply troubling to conservatives. This information was crucial in highlighting the severity of these crimes and the penalties associated with them. Removing this content may send the wrong message about the government’s stance on combating child exploitation.
Conservatives find it alarming that the White House has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for these revisions to the DOJ website. The lack of transparency in this matter only adds to the concerns about the Biden administration’s approach to addressing child sex trafficking.
As conservatives, we firmly believe in safeguarding the welfare and protection of vulnerable children. Efforts to combat child sex trafficking must remain a top priority for any administration. Any attempt to downplay or minimize this critical issue is unacceptable and goes against the values of justice, morality, and compassion that conservatives hold dear. We call on the Biden administration to provide a clear and honest explanation for these changes and to reaffirm its commitment to combatting child exploitation in all its forms. Our children deserve nothing less than a relentless pursuit of justice and the preservation of their safety and well-being.
