On the Hill Violence Against Women

U.S. Gymnasts Testify at Senate Hearing, Revealing How the FBI Mishandled the Larry Nassar Abuse Investigation

Four top U.S. gymnasts, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Maggie Nichols, testified at a Senate hearing Wednesday on how the FBI botched the investigation into sexual abuse allegations made against former USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar. Nassar is currently serving a life sentence for molesting hundreds of women and girls during his time […]

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Congress Introduces BE HEARD Act

The BE HEARD Act, a comprehensive bill meant to address and prevent workplace sexual harassment, was introduced in Congress on Tuesday by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and other co-sponsors. The bill is intended to close loopholes within federal discrimination laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of […]

Global

Pope Issues New Mandate Regarding Children and Abuse Survivors

On Friday, Pope Francis issued a new requirement mandating that Vatican officials report suspected sexual abuse to the Vatican judicial authorities. If they fail to do so, they will face fines or jail time. Francis says that this cooperation is absolutely necessary “in the activities of prevention.” This comes after the Pope admitted last month […]

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Thousands of Complaints of Sexual Abuse from Migrant Youths in Detention Centers

On Tuesday, a Democratic representative from Florida, Ted Deutch, released a report outlining the sexual abuse of migrant youths in detention facilities that included 4,556 filed complaints of sexual abuse from other youths in detention, adult staff, and other adults who are not staff. The report detailed complaints over the last four years from October […]

Violence Against Women

6 Year Old Sexually Abused in Immigration Detention Told to Stay Away from Assailant

After a 6-year-old girl was sexually abused in an immigrant detainment center in Arizona, she was forced to sign a document saying it was her responsibility to stay away from her abuser. The girl was residing in the detention facility after being forcibly separated from her parents at the southern border. Her abuser is an older child staying in the same center, Casa Glendale.

Violence Against Women

Larry Nassar Faces Additional Charges

A grand jury in Texas has charged former Michigan State and USA Gymnastics Team Doctor Larry Nassar with six additional counts of sexual assault for attacks that allegedly occurred at the famed Karoyli Ranch, a gymnastics training center for budding Olympians. The Karoyli Ranch near Houston is run by the notoriously abusive gymnastic coaches Martha and Bele Karoyli. County prosecutors have declined to file charges against the couple.

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Judge Rules Church Can Protect Funds From Abuse Settlements

A federal judge issued a ruling that the Archdiocese of Milwaukee can legally prevent $57 million from going to settlements in the church’s ongoing sexual abuse scandals by transferring the funds into a trust fund designed for the upkeep and maintenance of Milwaukee Catholic cemeteries.

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High-Ranking Catholic Clergyman Convicted!

After a three-month trial, Monsignor William Lynn of Philadelphia has been found guilty of one count of endangering children in the archdiocese for which he served as secretary of clergy from 1992 to 2004. Lynn is now the first senior church official to be convicted of a cover-up in the priest sexual abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church over the last 10 years. He faces 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison.