ROUNDUP: Rough Week for Andy Biggs and His Decades-Long Record of Protecting Pedophiles and Sex Traffickers

ROUNDUP: Rough Week for Andy Biggs and His Decades-Long Record of Protecting Pedophiles and Sex Traffickers

Andy Biggs’ history of protecting pedophiles and sex traffickers has been everywhere this week, with Arizonans across the political spectrum condemning Biggs’ decades-long record of siding with predators over their victims.

As Arizona Senate president, Biggs blocked bipartisan legislation that could have protected underage girls from sexual abuse and forced child marriage in Colorado City. He was also the lone “no” vote against tougher penalties for child prostitution, and was one of just two members to vote against releasing the Epstein files in committee.

Yesterday, advocates and survivors denounced Biggs’ disturbing defense of predators, with one Tucson social worker and school board member saying, “Andy Biggs knew what was happening to those children.”

Read more below about Biggs’ disturbing history of protecting dangerous predators:

KYMA: Rep. Andy Biggs faces criticism over past decisions 

• The Copper State War Room held a press conference Thursday with several speakers, including a former state legislator, a domestic violence survivor and victim advocate, a school board member and an attorney.

• The group accused Rep. Biggs of failing to do enough to protect children and said Arizona voters deserve an explanation for his decisions.

• “A vote for governor is very important and both candidates have records, very clear records,” said Debbie McCune Davis, a former state legislator. “They served in public office for a number of years and the contrast is very clear as to who stands up for women and children.”

• Lauren Easter, a domestic violence survivor and victim advocate, said Biggs should address the concerns raised by survivors and families. “And I believe Andy Biggs owes survivors and families across Arizona an explanation for the decision he made,” Easter said.
• Stephanie Miller, a Tucson social worker and school board member, said Biggs should have taken action. “That is why what Andy Biggs did in Colorado City is so utterly reprehensible to me,” Miller said. “Andy Biggs knew what was happening to those children.”

Copper Courier: Over 20 years, Andy Biggs repeatedly voted to protect sex predators

• As US Rep. Andy Biggs’ (R-Gilbert) record is in the spotlight for being soft on predators, a 2005 vote that has thus far remained uncovered could complicate Biggs’ effort to push back against those claims.

• Biggs did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

• Biggs has been facing scrutiny for what activists call a pattern of defending predators. In July, a Washington Post article highlighted Biggs’ efforts in 2013 to protect a Mormon fundamentalist group accused of sexually assaulting girls in rural Arizona.

• Biggs’ record on defending predators has been at the forefront of conversation in recent weeks after he locked down the Republican nomination for governor. On Aug. 17, the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) accused Biggs of having a “bizarre history” when it comes to predators, pointing to a 2007 vote.
• In 2007, the Arizona Republic published an op-ed that said Biggs objected to the bill out of concern for protecting “johns, the criminals who are purchasing our children for sex.” “Johns” is slang for customers of sex workers.

The Arizona Republic: Arizona Election Memo: Exclusive: The oppo war against Andy Biggs ramps up 

• Arizona Democrats today are launching a website amplifying the highlights (or lowlights, depending on how you look at it) of their opposition research on GOP gubernatorial hopeful Andy Biggs.

• “Andy Biggs has repeatedly found himself on the side of convicted sex offenders, their enablers, and the powerful insiders who protected them,” declares the homepage of andybiggsfiles.com.

• The page highlights Biggs’ move as Arizona Senate president in 2016 to kill a bipartisan bill that would have allowed a takeover of the police force in Colorado City, home to a polygamous sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Arizona’s Family: Hobbs allies accuse Biggs of ‘bizarre history’ on protecting child predators 

• Supporters of Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs are ramping up political pressure on her Republican opponent, Rep. Andy Biggs, ahead of the upcoming election.

• The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is leading the latest charge, accusing Biggs of voting to protect child predators.

• The first vote in question occurred in 2007 while Biggs was serving as a state representative […] The bill aimed to significantly boost criminal penalties for sex predators caught preying on children.

• Biggs was the lone lawmaker in the entire legislature to object to the bill during the committee vote.

MeidasTouch: Andy Biggs’ Bizarre History of Protecting Child Predators Comes to Light

• MAGA Republican Representative and Arizona Gubernatorial candidate, Andy Biggs was the lone vote against a bill that increased criminal penalties for engaging in child prostitution, in a move that prompted the Arizona Republic to publish an article called “Biggs Puts Pimps, Johns Ahead Of Child Protection.”

• But that vote was just one in a series of legislative moves by Biggs to protect child predators, up to and including his vote to keep the Epstein files from being released last year.

• “Women and children suffered three years longer than they should have because he protected the bad guys,” said Republican legislator Michelle Ugenti-Rita.

• Biggs is known to be a right-wing extremist and conspiracy theorist who has succeeded in politics because he comes from one of the most solidly loyal Republican districts in the country. But his decision to run for Governor is bringing his decades old record to light; revealing that at multiple points in his career Biggs has opted to protect pedophiles rather than their victims.

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