Human Trafficking

Human traffickers arrested at San Diego Comic-Con.

Comic-Con would be a venue of opportunity, not an active participant in these crimes. The con had nothing to do with this, in other words. The article was still alarming to read:

Authorities arrested 14 people and rescued 10 victims in a massive human trafficking sting at the San Diego Comic-Con Convention, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Tuesday.

The operation took place Thursday through Saturday at the wildly popular and star-studded convention in downtown San Diego and involved local and state task force officers, Bonta’s office said.

Law enforcement personnel posed as sex buyers to identify and contact potential trafficking victims and arrest their traffickers, according to the attorney general’s office. They also posted undercover ads soliciting sex.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 has FINALLY passed Congress.

After three months of Democratic nonsense, Democratic hackery, Democratic filibustering, Democratic delay, Democratic posturing, and general Democratic disregard for the underlying issue of human trafficking… the Senate bill finally passes. The final vote? As of 4:30 PM:

Continue reading The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 has FINALLY passed Congress.

Harry Reid FINALLY caves on opposition to anti-trafficking bill.

Took him long enough: “It took Congress more than a month, but Senate leaders announced Tuesday morning that they’ve finally broached an agreement on legislation to help the victims of human trafficking. After a vote expected as early as Tuesday afternoon, the Senate can then finally take up the nomination of Loretta Lynch.” Basically, the Democrats objected to language in the bill reaffirming that federal tax money could not be used to fund abortions (the shorthand for this is “the Hyde Amendment”). The ‘compromise’ here is that money appropriated for this bill wouldn’t be used for any medical services; medical procedures for trafficking victims will be handled via existing procedures, which are already subject to the Hyde Amendment. Continue reading Harry Reid FINALLY caves on opposition to anti-trafficking bill.

I actually expect that the human trafficking bill will get resolved soon.

Mostly because Mitch McConnell actually has something that the Democrats want, this time: to wit, the ability to unlock the Loretta Lynch nomination. And now that the Democrats have found a face-saving way* to back off on the inclusion of Hyde Amendment-style language in the human trafficking bill, it’ll probably pass on the second try. Aside from everything else, the papers are starting to get cranky… at the Democrats. Continue reading I actually expect that the human trafficking bill will get resolved soon.

McConnell holding up Lynch confirmation until human trafficking bill passes.

I’m not going to pretend that people will not be, ah, jaundiced about McConnell following through on this.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday said he plans to hold up attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch’s confirmation until the Senate passes a now-controversial human trafficking bill.

[snip]

Democrats are now holding up the trafficking bill, which glided through the judiciary committee, after they noticed an abortion provision embedded in the bill that would prevent victims of human trafficking from using restitution funds to pay for an abortion.

…but we’re about due to be tossed a bone. And yes, I know: people want the Loretta Lynch nomination scuppered on general principles. :shrug: I can’t make that happen for folks, sorry.

Human trafficking at Saudi diplomatic compound in Virginia?

I really hope that this was an unfortunate misunderstanding that will be cleared up very shortly.

A case of “possible human trafficking” at a Saudi diplomatic compound in Virginia is under investigation, Homeland Security confirmed to News4.

Agents from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations and Fairfax County police were called to a home in the 6000 block of Orris Street in McLean overnight and, in the words of a source familiar with the investigation, “rescued” two women. One woman reportedly tried to flee by squeezing through a gap in the front gate as it was closing.

…because if it’s not, well. We tend to get a bit touchy on the subject of human slavery on American soil.

Bad touchy.

Moe Lane

PS: I don’t care what the rules are in other countries. This is the United States of America: we are not like other countries.

Ken Cuccinelli corybookers in Virginia.

If that verb takes off, I want 10% of the gross.

Anyway, Virginia AG (who happens to be also running for Governor) Ken Cuccinelli was driving along yesterday when…

Cuccinelli was on his way back to Richmond on Friday after a meeting of his Human Trafficking Task Force in Staunton when he and his driver Cory Chenard noticed a semi-truck with a flatbed trailer carrying a heavy load in front of them an awful smelling smoke coming from it’s rear.

[snip]

“I skipped by the cab back to the back of the truck and sure enough it was still on fire,” he said.

Cuccinelli helped the driver out of the cab of the truck and then went in search of a fire extinguisher. After finding one he instructed Chenard to call for help and he ran to the back of the truck to help the driver put out the flames.

Continue reading Ken Cuccinelli corybookers in Virginia.

#rsrh QotD, Keywords Village Voice, Human Trafficking, Child Prostitution, Enablers Edition.

This one’s all about pumping up the Google rankings, folks.

In a statement released Wednesday, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) accused Village Voice Media of facilitating human trafficking and child prostitution.

Via Instapundit, who is not being a Buddha about this, either. Possibly because Glenn also read what Village Voice Media allegedly helped enable (via Nicholas Kristof)…

Moe Lane