Repeal Of 'Marital Rape Exception' Approved By Minnesota House

SAINT PAUL, MN — The Minnesota House Thursday unanimously approved a bill to scrap the "voluntary relationship defense." According to current Minnesota law, a person can avoid a criminal sexual conduct conviction "if the actor and complainant were adults cohabiting in an ongoing voluntary sexual relationship at the time of the alleged offense, or if the complainant is the actor's legal spouse."

The exception doesn't apply "if the couple is living apart and one of them has filed for legal separation or dissolution of the marriage."

Jenny Teeson, of Andover, told lawmakers this week that she was drugged and raped by her ex-husband. Teeson's case could not go forward because of Minnesota's voluntary relationship defense.

"Courageous Minnesotans like Jenny Teeson who are coming forward to tell painful personal stories are the inspiration behind this legislation," said Rep. Zack Stephenson, a Democrat from Coon Rapids. According to Stephenson, who authored the bill, repealing the exception in the law will result in seven additional convictions each year.

"Repealing the state’s 'marital rape exception' is an example of how the Legislature is putting Minnesotans’ values into action," Stephenson said.

"We care about one another, and we want to hold perpetrators accountable when they hurt the people we love."