Republican Candidate Criticizes Opponent’s Approach to Sex Work Policy
Republican attorney general candidate Doug Lloyd has criticized his Democratic opponent, Eli Savit, for his approach to sex work policy, calling it “foolish and dangerous.” Savit, the Washtenaw County prosecutor, has implemented a policy to decriminalize consensual sex work, citing guidelines from organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Policy Differences and Criticisms
Lloyd, who serves as the Eaton County prosecuting attorney, believes that Savit’s policy “ignores the realities of the sex trade” and views it as a perspective of a social engineer rather than a prosecutor. He argues that such policies could lead to an increase in sex trafficking.
Supporters of Lloyd, including human trafficking survivor Leyna Luttrull, express concerns that decriminalizing sex work without prosecuting buyers, pimps, and traffickers could perpetuate the darkness of the industry. They emphasize the importance of holding perpetrators accountable to prevent further exploitation.
Agreements on Legislative Action
Despite their differences, Lloyd, Savit, and Luttrull all agree on the need for legislative action to combat human trafficking. They support bills in the Michigan state Legislature that aim to increase penalties for traffickers while providing victims with the opportunity to expunge crimes committed while being trafficked.
Luttrull highlights that the proposed bills include partial decriminalization for victims but also advocate for stricter penalties for traffickers and buyers, emphasizing a balanced approach to addressing the issue.
Response from Savit’s Campaign
In response to Lloyd’s criticisms, a spokesperson for Savit’s campaign, Naina Agrawal-Hardin, criticized Lloyd for failing to present a positive vision for utilizing the Department of Attorney General to benefit Michiganders. Agrawal-Hardin called out Lloyd’s alleged lack of vision and attempts to deflect attention from his own record, stating that the people of Michigan deserve better leadership.
