Iowa lawmaker wants ‘stiffer penalties' for online grooming after missing child reunites with family
'…Stiffer penalties,' said State Representative Rob Johnson (D) District 34, Des Moines. 'You can make it so tough, and you even think about doing it and you get caught? You are going to be looking at a much, much stiffer penalty than you were before.'
Rep. Johnson told WHO 13 News that he is using the interim of the 91st General Assembly to work on legislation with lawmakers on the other side of the aisle and community members to deter bad actors from committing the events that were alleged this weekend.
'We will stop at nothing to protect our babies,' said Rep. Johnson.
Former Marshalltown substitute teacher accused of sexually exploiting student
The founder and CEO of Creative Visions also spoke with WHO 13 News about how glad the family is to have their child back, and what the community will do to continue to support the family.
'Counseling is needed, not only for our victim, but her little brother. You see it in him, he is traumatized,' said Ako Abdul-Samad. 'We have to talk about what has transpired, what has traumatized this child and what this child had went through and what other children to date are going through, those children that don't have the result that this child had.'
Abdul-Samad reiterated that the community will be there for the needs of the family, whatever those may be.
West Des Moines Police Department told WHO 13 News that because of the case being an active and open investigation, there was nothing new to add at this time.
Metro News:
Iowa lawmaker wants 'stiffer penalties' for online grooming after missing child reunites with family
Golfers get practice in pro-am before Principal Charity Classic Round 1 begins Friday
New tactile mural, sensory wellness space helps Ruby Van Meter students find calm
The Rook Room opens this weekend in downtown Des Moines
Iowa's high school musical theater talent on display in Des Moines Thursday
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) slammed California Democrats' proposed House map on Monday, saying he's taking measures to stop the new congressional lines from advancing. 'Democrats across the nation have played politics with redistricting for decades, and this is just the latest example. Republicans who are following state and federal laws will not be lectured by people who abused the system,' Johnson wrote in a statement on X. 'I have instructed the NRCC to use every measure and resource possible to fight the California Democrats' illegal power grab,' he continued, referring to the House Republicans' campaign arm. 'I will continue to lead efforts to defend our House Republican incumbents and grow our majority so that we can continue to deliver on our commonsense, America First agenda.' California Democrats proposed a new set of congressional lines on Friday, which aim to neutralize the gains Texas is expected to make with their new proposed House map. Because the Golden State uses an independent redistricting commission to draw its House map, Democrats are looking to place the map before voters in a special election this November to get around the redistricting commission and do a mid-decade redrawing of their House maps. The moves in California came in response to Texas, as the White House has pushed the Lone Star State and other GOP states to redraw their House maps ahead of 2026. Republicans are bracing for a challenging midterm environment and are looking to offset potential losses next year. Unlike California, Texas only needs to pass new maps through the state legislature before it heads to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for his signature. Democrats have argued they need to do redistricting in response to Texas, saying their party has fight fire with fire. Both parties have been criticized for taking the opportunity to redraw their House maps and both have been guilty of gerrymandering. Johnson is not the only Republican who's signaled he's against California's move. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who championed redistricting reform when he was in office, also indicated on X he was gearing up to fight the Golden State's proposed map.
