Robert Kraft and the debate over sex trafficking

Yahoo News 360 Patricia Mah,Yahoo News 360 Fri, Mar 1 3:35 PM EST

https://www.yahoo.com/news/robert-kraft-debate-sex-trafficking-203517978.html

Speed read

Who: Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.

What: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged with soliciting prostitution after authorities conducted a human trafficking sting at a Florida day spa last week. Police said hidden cameras captured video of Kraft and other suspects participating in the alleged sex acts. The 77-year-old billionaire, who denies engaging in illegal activity, pleaded not guilty.

Kraft’s case has put a fresh spotlight on the issue of sex trafficking. The nondescript strip-mall storefront under investigation highlights the nature of an illicit business sometimes characterized as “hidden in plain sight.” The case also shows how police are using a variety of methods to combat human trafficking, including investigating criminal networks, cracking down on online sites and enforcing civil codes.

Why it’s sparking debate: Evidence suggests that the women working at the spa Kraft visited were recruited from China and promised legitimate employment, only to be forced into sex work when they arrived in the United States. States across the country have been fighting the proliferation of brothels that operate under the guise of massage parlors or day spas. “You’re fighting against a multibillion-dollar industry that’s very, very good at being strategic and keeping their business going,” said Stephanie Clark, executive director at Amirah, a nonprofit that runs a safe house for women escaping sex trafficking in New England.

And when high-profile figures get caught up in this business, the outrage factor can be high. The Kraft case illustrates the power and wealth disparity that frequently exists between those who purchase commercial sex and those involved in sex work. Despite the sting that shut down 10 Florida day spas in February, only one person has been charged with human trafficking. The outcome of Kraft’s case, which even President Trump has commented on, will be watched by many.

Where: The sting that involved Kraft and hundreds of other people accused of soliciting sex took place in Florida, but as many as as 9,000 illegal massage parlors currently operate in more than 1,000 cities nationwide, according to the Polaris Project, a nonprofit that runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

When: The NFL team owner reportedly visited Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla., the night before and the morning of January’s AFC championship game, according to court documents. Kraft was charged on Feb. 22 with two misdemeanors. He pleaded not guilty on Feb. 28 to the charges, and his lawyers requested a non-jury trial, according to court records.

What’s next: Kraft is scheduled to be arraigned on March 27 in Florida, though he will likely be represented by his attorney in court. The first-degree misdemeanor charges he faces are potentially punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 fine and community service. The Palm Beach prosecutor said Kraft would receive no “special justice” in a case which highlights the scourge of “criminals trafficking women for sex.”

Legal experts have outline the potential outcomes of the case, with some identifying potential issues regarding questions surrounding the women on the purported video at the day spa and issues with the traffic stop, when police pulled over Kraft’s Bentley.

The NFL’s response will be carefully watched as the case continues. So far, the organization has said as part of its statement: “Our personal conduct policy applies to everyone in the NFL.”

Communities around the country will grapple with how to handle the issue of sex work and human trafficking. At least one official in Massachusetts is calling for stricter laws on the licensing and regulation of businesses that provide massage therapy and “bodyworks” services.

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Perspectives

Legalization of sex work would go a long way to combat trafficking.

“There is a cultural disagreement on whether prostitution is sacred or sinful. The more we repress something as a culture, the more it comes out sideways in individuals. … The laws in place now to supposedly protect people are hurting us and creating a bigger black market for sex. We have to change the law so there’s a substantial reduction in human trafficking. Here in Nevada, legal brothels do the community a service and they are regulated, inspected and taxed.” — Heidi Fleiss, former Hollywood madam, USA Today

“We must end the criminalization of sex work now. … Criminalization exposes people to exploitation. Prostitution records take people’s choices away, and when people have no choice but to trade sex to survive, they are more likely to be trafficked.” — Jessica Ramos and Julia Salazar, New York state senators, New York Daily News op-ed

Sex work clients should be prosecuted and shamed with the full weight of the law.

“They are such a lucrative industry only because the Robert Krafts of the world are patrons. He is a billionaire, famous and the owner of one of the most successful franchises in sports. … They are the appropriate target of law enforcement. In Illinois, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has been a national leader in making it a priority to go after the buyers of sex, while offering help to prostitutes.” — Rich Lowry, National Review

Sex workers who report abuse or criminal activities should be granted immunity.

“The proposed Utah bill swings on the side of decriminalization and tackles one big problem. Many workers are abused and taken advantage of by buyers because they can’t report without getting arrested themselves. Allowing them to report abuse without questioning their line of work puts accountability on the buyers and adds some protection for workers, many of whom do not have a choice about their situation.” — Savannah Hopkinson, Deseret News

We should not lose sight of the true victims in high-profile cases like Kraft’s.

“As an immigration attorney, I have met some of these women (because they are virtually always young, young women), and I can tell you that the look in their eyes is a cross between terror and emptiness. None of them knowingly entered the world of sex trafficking.” — Christine M. Flowers, Philadelphia Daily News

“A lot of times when we think of prostitution, we are thinking of women and girls standing on street corners, and we think of the movies where we think of pimps who are violent … [but that’s different than] when we think of [sex acts being performed in] massage parlors, because it’s made to seem like this very mellow environment. What we don’t realize is that the violence in those environments looks very different, and so we consider it a victimless crime.” — Vicky Basra, senior vice president of nonprofit Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, which has an anti-human trafficking program, Good Morning America

NFL must take a stand and hold Kraft accountable.

“[NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell’s track record on personal conduct matters — as a number of current and former players will attest — suggests that he’ll take action against Kraft. Yet if he does, the key will be the swiftness and substance of any such move. … Kraft deserves his due process but not a double standard. In fact, as the NFL’s conduct policy states, he deserves to be subject to a higher standard.” — Jarrett Bell, USA Today

“Kraft has been at the helm of the franchise that has set a new standard for excellence on the field, racking up six Super Bowl championships in 18 years. And yet the Patriots, under Kraft, have earned a reputation as unscrupulous cheaters, from Spygate to Deflategate. … If Kraft is guilty of these charges, the NFL should suspend him for the entire season, fine him $1 million and strip the Patriots of their first-round draft pick next year.” — Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press