Madigan Asks Congress For Help in Fighting Sex Trafficking

Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants Congress to help states better fight sex trafficking.

The Illinois Democrat and 48 other attorneys general sent a letter to lawmakers Wednesday, asking Congress to change the Communications Decency Act. The prosecutors want to prosecute online classified sites that profit from sex trafficking ads. Madigan says some of those ads promote sex trafficking of children.

Madigan and other attorneys general say they could more effectively combat the crimes if they were able to prosecute them at the state level.

The Communications Decency Act currently gives that authority to the federal government.

Madigan calls sex trafficking "a frightening reality in Illinois and across the country," adding the victims are often innocent children.