“As a grandfather, I want to know that my granddaughters are growing up in a society that has zero tolerance for this crime,” Rep. Ted Poe said. “No means no.”
Santa Clara Sheriff / AP
Bill Clark / Getty
Turner, 20, was convicted on three counts of sexual assault last week and Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky sentenced him to just six months in county jail and probation, saying that a longer sentence in prison would "severely impact" the college swimmer's life.
Turner has appealed his case.
A letter read aloud by the victim to her assailant during the trial has been read by millions of people across the world since BuzzFeed News published it on Friday.
On Monday, CNN anchor Ashleigh Banfield read the full letter aloud on air, drawing even wider attention.
According to prepared remarks provided to BuzzFeed News, Republican Representative Poe plans to read long excerpts from the letter aloud in the House, demand the court of appeals to overturn Turner's lenient sentence, and ask for the people of California to oust Judge Persky.
"Mr. Speaker, I was a criminal court judge and prosecutor for 30 years, this judge got it wrong," Poe's prepared remarks read.
A spokesperson for Rep. Poe's office told BuzzFeed News that he believes it is "up to the people of California to decide" to fire Judge Persky, but that he "supports any and all efforts to do this."
Poe also said he is "glad this arrogant defendant has appealed his case," adding that this appeal will give the court an opportunity to give the former Stanford swimmer a harsher sentence.
"The appeals court must make this right and overturn this pathetic sentence," Poe said.
Poe, a former judge himself, has worked with victims of sexual assault in the past. He is currently the chairman of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus and helped Texas pass registration of sex offenders.
"As a country, we must change our mentality and make sure that our young people recognize sexual assault and rape for the heinous crimes that they are," Poe said toward the end of his speech.
"As a grandfather, I want to know that my granddaughters are growing up in a society that has zero tolerance for this crime," he continued. "No means no."
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1YbR2ho
No comments:
Post a Comment