Arizona Gubernatorial Candidate Faces Scrutiny Over Past Legislative Decisions on Sex Trafficking Laws
Arizona Representative Andy Biggs, currently the Republican nominee for governor, is facing renewed examination over his legislative record concerning sex trafficking laws, particularly his vote against a child protection measure two decades ago.
Back in 2005, while serving in the Arizona House of Representatives, Biggs was one of just four legislators who opposed SB 1338. This legislation aimed to reclassify sex trafficking of minors under 15 as a “dangerous crime against children,” introducing a 20-year standard prison sentence for first-time offenders and a 30-year sentence for repeat offenses. Despite Biggs’ opposition, the bill was enacted under Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano.
Biggs did not publicly clarify the reasons behind his decision to vote against the measure. His voting record has since become a contentious point in his gubernatorial campaign, with critics highlighting a perceived pattern of not supporting measures designed to protect victims of sexual offenses.
In the same year, Biggs also voted against a bipartisan bill mandating that sex offenders relocating to Arizona must re-register within the state. Furthermore, in 2007, he was the sole committee member to oppose legislation that sought to intensify penalties for child prostitution.
As the Arizona Senate leader in 2013, Biggs obstructed a bipartisan effort to disband a local police department accused of providing protection to an extremist religious sect implicated in the abuse of young girls.
Upon joining the U.S. Congress in 2017, Biggs continued this trend by opposing a widely supported bipartisan bill in 2018 aimed at curbing online sex trafficking. The legislation was eventually signed into law by then-President Donald Trump.
In a more recent instance, Biggs voted within a committee to block the release of Justice Department files concerning the investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, he later supported their release during a floor vote.
The gubernatorial race between Biggs and the current Democratic Governor, Katie Hobbs, remains competitive. A July poll by the Tarrance Group indicated that Hobbs was leading Biggs by four percentage points.
For further details, visit the original article on American Journal News. The story initially appeared on American Journal News.
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