Sex Workers Decry Verdicts in Backpage’s Federal Show Trial
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 22, 2023
Prosecution Ends With Single Money Laundering Guilty Verdict For Backpage Executive
Decriminalization Needed More Than Ever
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) and Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE RI) issued the following statement after the conclusion of the trial of executives of adult site Backpage.com.
After six (6) years and two trials, Michael Lacey, a founder of Backpage.com, was convicted on a single count of money laundering and acquitted on another. An Arizona jury deadlocked on 84 other counts against him in a case that alleged he participated in a scheme to sell sex ads.
“The prosecution of Backpage is a textbook example of a false narrative,” said Maxine Doogan, of ESPLERP. “The Government claims that Backpage’s adult sections encourage “trafficking” – despite no charges to that effect. It’s all a sham. The owners of Backpage are not charged with trafficking. They are charged with profiting from prostitution. There isn’t a federal law against prostitution, but they have invented a way to go after the money, using obscure provisions of the Travel Act to apply state-level criminal violations (from Arizona) that cross state lines.”
At one level, you have to admire the extreme invention and persistence of the Department of Justice. They were under immense political pressure and determined to get Backpage.
In a crucial judicial ruling, the judge barred the defense from telling the jury about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — the law that would hypothetically protect the defendants’ actions — because the section applies only to state crimes, not federal crimes. This is likely to be challenged on appeal.
“This is part of a widespread anti-sex work crackdown,” said Bella Robinson of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE RI). “In this case, there is prosecutorial misconduct, two trials, multiple defendants, and sadly persecuting one of those defendants into despair and suicide.”
“The case against Backpage.com rests entirely on the criminalization of sex work,” said Claire Alwyne of ESPLERP. “If sex work were decriminalized, as it is in multiple countries (like New Zealand), there would be no case - just adults engaging in consensual commercial sex. That would allow sex workers who face harassment, assault, theft, trafficking, or other crimes to get the same justice as any other worker. It would also stop law enforcement from arresting consensual sex workers and our clients.”
Sex workers demand decriminalization!
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The prosecutors destroyed Michael's defense evidence, withheld evidence that would have helped them and the judge excused them. The jury couldn't come up with a verdict and the judge forced them to. A lot of suspicious activity. Now is the time to put together and appeal fund for Michael because the government stole all of his money - even the money he earned before he created Backpage the government has taken. We must pull together and help. More to come.