Extra: Our Children at Risk

A Letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi et al.

As long as pedophilia and sex trafficking are front and center (see Jeffrey Epstein), I thought I would share this letter (you can see the recipients below) that went essentially unanswered (except for a couple of autoreplies). Apparently, the justice department has its hands full deporting innocent people and has no time for finding justice for victims of sexual misconduct. Here's the letter. Feel free to restack or otherwise share this post in its entirety. Let the world know just what a sham this justice department is!

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TO: Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi

cc: Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. John Thune, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Mike Johnson, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky.

Dear Honourable Attorney General Bondi and Members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees,

I am writing to you in this open letter about my concerns for the children of America. As a retired American male survivor of rape and sexual abuse by elder men in my childhood, it troubles me greatly that the welfare of children seems to have fallen off the radar where the current administration is concerned.

The war on immigration not only distracts from the issue of pedophilia in America, but it also contributes to child abuse, including the deportation of children as young as two years old and children with cancer.

The Administration has furthermore lifted a travel ban on Andrew Tate, a known rapist and sex trafficker, and has released from prison (for separate offenses), three individuals facing criminal charges related to sex and minors:

- Theodore Middendorf. Accused of raping a 7-year-old.

- David Daniel: Accused of producing and possessing child pornography.

- Andrew Taake: Accused of online solicitation of a minor.

To our country’s chief legal officer and public advocate, will you commit to tackling the crimes of child molestation, abuse, and exploitation with the urgency and seriousness they deserve?

According to the Mayo Clinic, it is estimated that over 60,000 children are sexually abused each year in the United States. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) reports that one in four males, and one in three females who were victims of rape or attempted rape were between the ages of 11 and 17. This is horrifying and unacceptable in a “civilized” society; and yet the current administration continues to turn a blind eye to the crimes and ramifications of sexual abuse.

The Boy Scouts of America effectively settled a massive lawsuit with 70,000+ victims recently (the tip of the iceberg, I fear) by filing for bankruptcy in a scandal that spans decades. I know; I was one of those victims and one of those plaintiffs.

Of all my molesters (and I’ve lost count), several were friends of the family and others were clergy or other leaders such as the Scout master and high school band leader (all white males). It went on for years. From my perspective, any enabling of this domestic/homegrown abuse far outstrips the urgency of deporting “illegal” immigrants who may or may not have committed violent offenses.

The trauma generated from sexual abuse can cause a lifetime of pain, suffering, shame, and guilt for the abused and breeds a harmful culture of gaslighting and deception in their communities. I’m one of the lucky ones in that I had enough decades in me to eventually discover the healing power of writing, so that I could find my center and let go of years of pain.

Our country's foundation rests on our inalienable commitment to defending humanity’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As our torchbearers, our children are the promise of the world; and they deserve to grow up in a safe environment and live normal lives.

I call upon the Justice Department to earnestly investigate and enforce the laws on the books regarding pedophilia, sex trafficking, and sexual abuse. I also call upon Congress to enact stricter legislation and stiffer penalties for those involved in pedophilia and sexual abuse, to allocate more funds for law enforcement to focus on these issues, and for closer working relationships with federal, state, and local officials on enforcement that holds pedophiles and sex offenders to account.

No one should have to endure what I and millions of others have had to endure. This problem may be more entrenched in society than drugs; it’s that pervasive. It’s time to pull the covers off this obscenity and bring these perpetrators to justice. 

It’s a huge undertaking. It requires the backbone to enforce the law rigorously, regardless of who winds up in its maw. But the welfare of America’s children will be worth it.

Bottom line: Give our children a fighting chance! Our generation deserved better; the least we can do is ensure for our children the safe and supportive communities some of us never had.

Richard Grahn

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My deepest thanks to @Jackie for helping with the drafting of this letter.