Ohio’s political landscape is heating up as Jon Husted faces scrutiny in his reelection campaign for the U.S. Senate. Accusations have emerged regarding his past actions, specifically related to his role in revising a bill aimed at aiding survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
Back in 2006, while serving as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Husted played a pivotal role in altering a significant piece of legislation, SB 17, which was designed to address the Catholic clergy abuse scandal. The bill, introduced by Democratic state Sen. Teresa Fedor, aimed to enforce mandatory reporting of child abuse by clergy across all religions, redefine sexual battery to include clergy abuse of minors, and establish a one-year civil window for victims to seek damages for cases beyond the 35-year statute of limitations.
However, the Catholic Conference of Ohio, representing state bishops, opposed the one-year civil window, arguing it was unjust for the church to defend against old accusations. Under Husted’s leadership, the House removed this provision, replacing it with an online registry for clergy members found liable in civil court for sexual abuse.
Barbara Blaine, founder of a survivor advocacy group, expressed her disappointment, accusing Husted of succumbing to pressure from the Catholic Conference. “We felt betrayed,” she told the Columbus Dispatch.
On the day the modified bill was set for a vote, survivors filled the state Capitol halls, each carrying a photo of themselves from the time of their abuse. Reports suggest that several Republican legislators avoided facing these survivors by entering the chamber through side doors. Despite the controversy, the legislation passed with broad support.
Husted’s actions in 2006 were not isolated. In 2004, he supported a tort reform law that capped noneconomic damages for sexual abuse victims at $250,000, a move that the Ohio Capital Journal noted in 2021 deprived child rape victims of substantial legal damages.
Currently, Husted is contending with allegations related to his campaign, including accepting donations linked to Jeffrey Epstein and having a campaign chair with a criminal record for misconduct involving a minor. These claims have amplified criticisms of Husted’s perceived support for individuals involved in sexual abuse.
Husted, appointed to the Senate last year to succeed Vice President J.D. Vance, is preparing to compete against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in the upcoming election.
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