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Legislative News and Views - Rep. John Lesch (DFL)

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RELEASE: With Strong, Bipartisan Vote, State Senate Passes Bill to End Revenge Porn

Monday, May 2, 2016

St. Paul, Minn. – On a vote of 62-3, today the Minnesota State Senate overwhelmingly passed SF 2713, the bill aimed at stopping the practice of “revenge porn,” whereby private sexual images are distributed or sexual solicitation is made without consent, often by a former partner. The bill’s chief author in the Minnesota House, Rep. John Lesch (DFL – St. Paul) applauded this action.

“This is an emerging, nationwide issue, and is a case when technology can be ahead of policymakers’ ability to legislate it,” Lesch said. “The vote taken by the Senate today illustrates the urgency of addressing this problem; I commend Sen. Barb Goodwin for her work in carrying the bill and thank the Senate for the message such a large vote of ‘yes’ shows.”

Last May, the Minnesota Court of Appeals struck down Minnesota’s criminal defamation law – which had been used in Isanti County to prosecute a case of revenge porn – as unconstitutionally broad. Afterward Rep. Lesch convened the “End Revenge Porn Working Group” to craft a law addressing revenge porn which would both provide justice to victims as well as withstand strict constitutional scrutiny. The working group included legislators, prosecutors, defense attorneys, civil liberties experts, advocates for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, among others.

While the group had many members with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, Rep. Lesch sought to achieve a product with as close to a consensus as possible. He specifically pointed to the work of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, the Minnesota County Attorneys Association and the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative in crafting the bill.

After its Senate passage, it next goes to the House, where Rep. Lesch hopes it will be heard soon, and passed with a similar, bipartisan result.

“I know time is running out this session, but this is something we can and should get done,” Lesch said. “Right now, there is essentially no accountability for those committing these acts, and as a Legislature we cannot afford to wait to say ‘No More.’”

Rep. Lesch represents the Como Park, North End, East Side and Hamline-Midway neighborhoods at the Capitol, and serves as the DFL-lead on the Minnesota House Civil Law and Data Practices Committee.