Kuster to Highlight Plight of Rape Victims on C-Span

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster and a bipartisan group of members of Congress will be giving speeches tonight during the body’s Special Order Hour in honor of “Emily Doe,” the 23-year-old victim of the Stanford rape case that made national headlines due to the light sentence given to the rapist, Brock Turner.

Kuster last week joined 17 other members of Congress to read her open letter about the attack and trial from the House floor. It was the first time a victim’s statement had been read in the full House chambers, according to Rosie Hilmer, a spokesperson for Kuster.

“Tonight, Congresswoman Kuster and her colleagues will take this action a step further, by sharing their own personal experiences or those of their loved ones involving sexual assault,” Hilmer noted. “The purpose of giving these speeches is to demonstrate that, whether a college student, a professional worker, or indeed, even a Member of Congress, Emily Doe is not alone – and steps must be taken to stop the victimization of women and other individuals from abusers.”

Hilmer noted that the speeches will be “heart-wrenching but deeply inspiring stories.”

Voters in the 2nd Congressional District can watch the special hour between 8 and 9:30 p.m., pending the House voting schedule, on C-Span.

A petition calling for removal of the judge in the case – Aaron Persky, who issued the six-month sentence – has reached more than one million signers.