Special Report Spotlight Insight: Trump hasn't delivered sex-trafficking crackdown Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Brad Heath and Kristina Cooke Reuters Aug 17, 2026 Aug 17, 2026 Updated Sep 19, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — The Trump administration repeatedly said the fight against sex trafficking is one of its top priorities.kAmw@H6G6C[ :?G6DE:82E:@?D DE2==65 2?5 AC@D64FE:@?D 564=:?65 5F6 E@ DE277:?8 D9@CE286D[ 7F?5:?8 4FED[ 2 3@@DE :? :>>:8C2E:@? 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 8C@H:?8 5:DECFDE @7 E96 8@G6C?>6?E 2>@?8 G:4E:>D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C6G:6H @7 7656C2= 4@FCE C64@C5D 2?5 #6FE6CD :?E6CG:6HD H:E9 ad 7@C>6C AC@D64FE@CD[ 4FCC6?E 286?ED 2?5 G:4E:>D’ 25G@42E6D]k^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQ*@F 42?VE D2J D@>6E9:?8 :D 2 AC:@C:EJ 2?5 E96? ?@E AC@G:56 E96 C6D@FC46D E@ >2<6 E92E 92AA6?[” D2:5 y24BF6=:?6 z6==6J[ 2 7@C>6C 7656C2= AC@D64FE@C :? }6H *@C< H9@ =65 E96 AC@D64FE:@? @7 C2AA6C 2?5 24E@C $62? Qs:55JQ r@>3D[ H9@ H2D 244FD65 @7 D6I EC277:4<:?8 2?5 4@?G:4E65 @? EH@ 4@F?ED @7 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 7@C AC@DE:EFE:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am People are also reading… NC cannabis council considers public consumption policy for THC products Autumn Jubilee in Rowan County set for Saturday; Sunday events canceled NC has changed math standards. Here’s what high school students will now take Concord’s Barnes claims win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Lake Gaston Kannapolis Fire Department hosts Fire Truck Parade, Food Drive, Bloodmobile Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going Bill Belichick, UNC football had Notre Dame on upset alert before everything changed Are you required to answer immigration questions at NC traffic stops? The law Dancing for the Arts returns Nov. 7 with a new lineup of local stars Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver NC family permanently protects 150 acres in Iredell and Alexander counties Concord celebrates 2,125 combined years of service End of an era: NC DMV eliminates stickers, routine paper registration on Oct. 1. Here's why NC man charged with 60-plus counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, police say Will UNC football upset Notre Dame? Three keys for Bill Belichick's Tar Heels this weekend kAmu656C2= D6I\EC277:4<:?8 492C86D 5C@AA65 E9:D J62C E@ E96 D=@H6DE A246 D:?46 a_`_] %96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E 492C865 fb A6@A=6 E9C@F89 yF?6[ 23@FE aaT =@H6C E92? E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 492C865 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 E96 A2DE E9C66 J62CD[ 4@FCE C64@C5D D9@H]k^AmkAmr92C86D 2=D@ 564=:?65] %96 s~y 492C865 `[ab_ A6@A=6 H:E9 49:=5 A@C?@8C2A9J G:@=2E:@?D E9C@F89 yF?6[ bT =6DD E92? 2G6C286 7@C E96 D2>6 >@?E9D @G6C E96 A2DE E9C66 J62CD] xE 492C865 b`g A6@A=6 H:E9 G:@=2E:?8 E96 |2?? p4E[ H9:49 E2C86ED :?E6CDE2E6 AC@DE:EFE:@?[ `gT =6DD E92? 2G6C286]k^Am A banner depicting President Donald Trump is put up Feb. 20 on the Department of Justice building in Washington. Ken Cedeno, REUTERS kAm%96D6 5C@AD C67=64E 2 =2C86C D9:7E :? 7656C2= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E AC:@C:E:6D F?56C !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A[ H9@ D=2D965 286?4J 3F586ED 2?5 >2?52E65 2 7@4FD @? 56A@CE2E:@?D] !6@A=6 492C865 H:E9 4C:>6D F?C6=2E65 E@ :>>:8C2E:@? — 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> E2I 6G2D:@? E@ 5CF8 EC277:4<:?8 — 5C@AA65 fT E9C@F89 yF?6 E@ 23@FE aa[___[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4@FCE C64@C5D]k^Am kAm%96 7:?5:?8D 4@>6 ;FDE 2D r@?8C6DD 4@?7:C>65 %CF>A ?@>:?66 %@55 q=2?496 2D 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= :? 2 d_–ch G@E6 H:E9 EH@ #6AF3=:42?D 56764E:?8] w:D 42?5:524J 72465 2 3:A2CE:D2? 324<=2D9 @G6C E96 92?5=:?8 @7 5@4F>6?ED C6=2E65 E@ E96 =2E6 4@?G:4E65 D6I @776?56C y677C6J tADE6:? 2?5 2 EC2?D76C E@ 2 >:?:>F>\D64FC:EJ AC:D@? 8C2?E65 E@ 9:D 244@>A=:46[ v9:D=2:?6 |2IH6==[ D9@CE=J 27E6C q=2?496 A6CD@?2==J :?E6CG:6H65 96C]k^AmkAmq=2?496 C646?E=J E@=5 r@?8C6DD 4@>32EE:?8 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 QC6>2:?D 2 s6A2CE>6?E AC:@C:EJ 8:G6? E96 8C2G:EJ @7 E96 92C> :E 42FD6D]Qk^Am kAm%96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 2AA@:?E65 2 ?6H ?2E:@?2= 4@@C5:?2E@C 7@C 49:=5 6IA=@:E2E:@? 2?5 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8[ p=6DD2?5C2 $6C2?@[ 2 42C66C AC@D64FE@C]k^Am kAmx? DE2E6>6?ED E@ #6FE6CD[ D96 D2:5 E96 56A2CE>6?E H2D 4@>>:EE65 E@ 4@>32E:?8 D6I EC277:4<:?8] $96 D2:5 E96 5C@A :? AC@D64FE:@?D >:89E 92G6 C6DF=E65 7C@> AC@D64FE@CD 2?5 :?G6DE:82E@CD DA6?5:?8 E:>6 =:E:82E:?8 2 =2C86 ?F>36C @7 @?8@:?8 42D6D E92E AF==65 E9@D6 @77:4:2=D 2H2J 7C@> @A6?:?8 ?6H @?6D]k^AmkAms6A2CE>6?E @7 w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ DA@<6DH@>2? z2E96C:?6 rFCC:6 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E @? E96 #6FE6CD C6G:6H] $96 D2:5 E96 56A2CE>6?E :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ 3@E9 :>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 D6I\4C:>6D 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 E@FE65 :ED “F?H2G6C:?8 565:42E:@? E@ 5:D>2?E=:?8 9F>2?\EC277:4<:?8 ?6EH@C<D]Qk^Am Government-politics Senate Republicans confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general David Morgan and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff Reuters k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp86?ED AF==65 2H2J[ D62D@?65 AC@D64FE@CD 8@?6k^DA2?mk^9am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$6I\EC277:4<:?8 42D6D 2C6 2>@?8 E96 E@F896DE E@ :?G6DE:82E6 2?5 AC@D64FE6[ C6BF:C:?8 E96 F?E2?8=:?8 @7 ADJ49@=@8:42= 23FD6[ EC24<:?8 :==:4:E 7:?2?46D 2?5 D64FC:?8 E96 ECFDE @7 EC2F>2E:K65 G:4E:>D]k^DA2?mk^AmkAms@K6?D @7 G6E6C2?D H:E9 6IA6C:6?46 AC@D64FE:?8 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 42D6D C646?E=J =67E E96 56A2CE>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ D6G6? 7@C>6C AC@D64FE@CD H9@ H@C<65 DF49 42D6D] sFC:?8 A2CE @7 =2DE J62C[ E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 2== w$x 286?ED H6C6 2DD:8?65 E@ :>>:8C2E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4FCC6?E 286?ED 2?5 AC6G:@FD #6FE6CD C6A@CE:?8]k^Am kAmx? D@>6 &]$] 2EE@C?6JD’ @77:46D[ E96 C6>2:?:?8 286?ED H@C<:?8 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 42D6D 42?’E 7:?5 AC@D64FE@CD E@ AFCDF6 E96:C 42D6D[ 286?ED 2?5 7@C>6C AC@D64FE@CD D2J]k^Am kAm$6C2?@ D2:5 2EEC:E:@? :D ?@C>2= :? E96D6 ;@3D 3642FD6 H@C<:?8 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 42D6D “E2<6D 2 E@== @? A6@A=6 >@C6 E92? @E96C EJA6D @7 42D6D[” E9@F89 E96 C646?E=J 56A2CE65 AC@D64FE@CD D2:5 >@C6 A6@A=6 =67E E92? :D EJA:42=] $6C2?@ ?@E65 E96 56A2CE>6?E :D 9:C:?8 E@ 7:== E96D6 C@=6D]k^AmkAm#6FE6CD @3E2:?65 E96 5@4<6ED @7 6G6CJ AF3=:4=J 7:=65 7656C2= 4C:>:?2= 42D6 @G6C E96 A2DE EH@ 564256D 7C@> (6DE=2H[ 2 %9@>D@? #6FE6CD =682= C6D62C49 D6CG:46] x? D@>6 42D6D[ #6FE6CD FD65 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 E@ 96=A 4=2DD:7J 492C86D] p C6G:6H @7 2 C2?5@> D6E @7 C64@C5D D9@H65 :ED 2DD6DD>6?ED E@ 36 hgT 244FC2E6]k^Am kAm%96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E D2:5 :ED @H? 52E2 D9@H65 2 D>2==6C 564C62D6[ 3FE :E 564=:?65 E@ 6IA=2:? 9@H :E C624965 E9@D6 4@?4=FD:@?D @C E@ AC@G:56 42D6 ?F>36CD 4@CC6=2E:?8 E@ E96 AC@D64FE:@?D :E 4@F?E65] #6FE6CD 4@F=5 ?@E C6A=:42E6 E96 s~yVD C6DF=ED FD:?8 2 AF3=:4 G6CD:@? @7 :ED 52E232D6]k^Am Crime-courts Panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt Ahmed Aboulenein Reuters Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmr@FCE C64@C5D 52E2 6I2>:?65 3J #6FE6CD D9@H65 2 =@?8\E6C> EC6?5 @7 564=:?:?8 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 42D6D @G6C E96 A2DE 564256] $@FC46D 2EEC:3FE65 E96 EC6?5 :? A2CE E@ E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E’D :?4C62D65 7@4FD @? >@C6 E:>6\4@?DF>:?8 42D6D 282:?DE 9:896C\AC@7:=6 @776?56CD]k^Am kAm&?56C %CF>A[ DF49 AC@D64FE:@?D H6C6 92>A6C65 3J E96 7@4FD @? :>>:8C2E:@?[ E96 56A2CEFC6 @7 286?ED 2?5 AC@D64FE@CD 2?5 4FED E@ 8C2?ED E@ 8C@FAD DFAA@CE:?8 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 G:4E:>D]k^AmkAm~?6 G6E6C2? 7656C2= 286?E[ DA62<:?8 @? 4@?5:E:@? @7 2?@?J>:EJ[ D2:5 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 92D ?@E 366? 2 AC:@C:EJ D:?46 %CF>A =2F?4965 9:D >2DD\56A@CE2E:@?D 42>A2:8?] (:E9 76H6C 286?ED 565:42E65 E@ D6I\EC277:4<:?8[ >2?J 24E:G6 :?G6DE:82E:@?D 2C6 6DD6?E:2==J 7C@K6? 2?5 ?6H 7:=6D 2C6 C2C6=J @A6?65[ D6G6? 7@C>6C AC@D64FE@CD 2?5 E9C66 286?ED E@=5 #6FE6CD]k^Am kAmQ%96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D E9C@H:?8 D2?5 :? E96 862CD :? `_[___ 5:776C6?E H2JD[Q D2:5 |2CE:?2 '2?56?3FC8[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 wF>2? %C277:4<:?8 {682= r6?E6C[ H9@D6 @C82?:K2E:@? H@C<65 H:E9 A2CE?6CD E@ D66< C6=62D6 @7 2 4@@A6C2E:?8 EC277:4<:?8 G:4E:> 7C@> 56E6?E:@?]k^Am Crime-courts Sources: White House sought new Reflecting Pool charges Andrew Goudsward Reuters kAm~?6 7@C>6C AC@D64FE@C :? E96 D@FE96C? &]$] D2:5 96C @77:46’D D6I\EC277:4<:?8 :?G6DE:82E:@?D H6C6 4C:AA=65 H96? D6G6C2= w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ x?G6DE:82E:@?D 286?ED H@C<:?8 E96> H6C6 C62DD:8?65 E@ @E96C AC:@C:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 :>>:8C2E:@? C2:5D] x? @E96C ;FC:D5:4E:@?D[ A6@A=6 72>:=:2C H:E9 7656C2= 6?7@C46>6?E @A6C2E:@?D D2:5 DFA6CG:D@CD H6C6 7@C465 E@ 32C82:? 7@C E96 76H C6>2:?:?8 286?ED 2G2:=23=6 7@C D6I\EC277:4<:?8 AC@36D]k^Am kAm(96? 286?ED 86E C62DD:8?65[ :E 5:DCFAED 7C28:=6 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 G:4E:>D 2?5 H:E?6DD6D[ H9@ @7E6? 5@?’E 92G6 A9@?6D @C DE23=6 9@FD:?8] %92E >62?D 42D6D 42? 72== 2A2CE[ @?6 7656C2= 286?E D2:5]k^Am kAm~?6 EC277:4<:?8 DFCG:G@C :? }6H t?8=2?5 D2H 96C 42D6 =2?8F:D9 27E6C 286?ED D2:5 E96J H6C6 5:G6CE65 E@ :>>:8C2E:@? 6?7@C46>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 DE2776C 2E 2? 25G@424J @C82?:K2E:@? H9@ H@C<65 H:E9 E96 DFCG:G@C]k^AmkAm%96 DFCG:G@C H2D DF3D6BF6?E=J 7@C465 324< :?E@ D6I H@C< 3FE ?@ =@?86C H2?ED E@ :?G@=G6 7656C2= 2FE9@C:E:6D[ E96 25G@42E6 D2:5[ DA62<:?8 @? 4@?5:E:@? @7 2?@?J>:EJ E@ 6?DFC6 4@?7:56?E:2=:EJ 7@C E96 DFCG:G@C]k^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp? uqx DA@<6DA6CD@? D2:5 286?ED H9@ H6C6 D9:7E65 E@ :>>:8C2E:@? 925 366? H@C<:?8 @? 2C62D :?4=F5:?8 D6I\EC277:4<:?8 3FE E92E E96 EC2?D76CD 5:5?VE 492?86 E96:C C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ :?G6DE:82E6 E96D6 4C:>6D] %96 @77:4:2= 5:5 ?@E 4@>>6?E @? H96E96C E96 EC2?D76CD 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96 564=:?6 :? D6I\EC277:4<:?8 AC@D64FE:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmvC2?ED 5:D2AA62C[ ECFDE 6C@56Dk^DA2?mk^9amkAm%96 7:?2?4:2= D276EJ ?6E 56D:8?65 E@ <66A G:4E:>D DE23=6 6?@F89 E@ E6DE:7J 2=D@ G2?:D965]k^Am kAm%96 s~y’D ~77:46 @7 yFDE:46 !C@8C2>D EJA:42==J 5:DEC:3FE6D 23@FE Sh_ >:==:@? 2??F2==J :? 8C2?ED[ EJA:42==J E@ ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@?D E92E AC@G:56 6>6C86?4J 9@FD:?8[ 7@@5 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@F?D6=:?8 E@ EC277:4<:?8 G:4E:>D]k^Am kAmqFE 8C2?E66D D2:5 D@>6 @7 E96D6 8C2?ED H6C6 56=2J65 @C 7C@K6? :? %CF>A’D 677@CED E@ 4FE 7656C2= DA6?5:?8] pDD@4:2E6 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= $E2?=6J (@@5H2C5 D2:5 >@DE 8C2?ED 7C@> =2DE J62C H6C6 2H2C565[ H:E9@FE AC@G:5:?8 7:8FC6D[ 2?5 E96 56A2CE>6?E :D C6G:6H:?8 E96 C6>2:?:?8 2AA=:42E:@?D E@ 6?DFC6 E96J 2=:8? H:E9 25>:?:DEC2E:@? AC:@C:E:6D]k^Am kAmp=2? $>JE9[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 {@D p?86=6D\32D65 $2G:?8 x??@46?46[ D2H EH@ 7656C2= 8C2?ED E@E2=:?8 Sf__[___ 56=2J65 7@C 2=>@DE 2 J62C] ~E96C 8C@FAD E@=5 #6FE6CD E96J H6C6 7@C465 E@ 6?5 D@>6 AC@8C2>D @C DE@A AC@G:5:?8 D6CG:46D 3642FD6 @7 =@DE 8C2?ED]k^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmw:DE@C:42==J[ 7656C2= AC@D64FE@CD @776C65 D@\42==65 %\G:D2D[ 8C2?E:?8 =682= :>>:8C2E:@? DE2EFD E@ EC277:4<:?8 G:4E:>D 2D 2? :?46?E:G6 E@ 4@@A6C2E6 H:E9 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 2AAC@G65 bdc %\G:D2D :? E96 7:CDE D:I >@?E9D @7 E96 4FCC6?E 7:D42= J62C E92E 6?5D :? $6AE6>36C – @C 23@FE 92=7 E96 EJA:42= A246 @G6C E96 A2DE 564256[ 244@C5:?8 E@ s6A2CE>6?E @7 w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ 52E2] |@C6 E92? f`[___ % G:D2 2AA=:42E:@?D 2C6 A6?5:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%H@ 7@C>6C AC@D64FE@CD E@=5 #6FE6CD E96:C C6DA64E:G6 &]$] pEE@C?6JVD @77:46D 92=E65 E96 AC24E:46 @7 DFAA@CE:?8 %\G:D2 2AA=:42E:@?D] $6C2?@ D2:5 AC@D64FE@CD 2?5 A2C2=682=D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ DE:== H@C< H:E9 sw$ E@ G6C:7J G:4E:>D’ 4@@A6C2E:@? 3FE E92E sw$ F=E:>2E6=J 564:56D @? E96:C G:D2 2AA=:42E:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$6G6C2= :>>:8C2E:@? 2EE@C?6JD 2=D@ D2:5 E92E 4=:6?ED 24E:G6=J 4@@A6C2E:?8 @? D6I\EC277:4<:?8 AC@36D 925 366? 56E2:?65 3J :>>:8C2E:@? 2FE9@C:E:6D[ 92=E:?8 4C:>:?2= :?G6DE:82E:@?D] x? |:49:82? =2DE J62C[ 2 r9:?6D6 H@>2? H9@ 925 366? D6I\EC277:4<65 :? r2=:7@C?:2 H2D 56E2:?65 3J xrt 56DA:E6 92G:?8 2 %\G:D2 2AA=:42E:@? A6?5:?8 D:?46 a_aa[ D2:5 96C 2EE@C?6J[ {2FC2 q6C86C]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“x7 x 42?VE 8F2C2?E66 2 G:4E:> H@?VE 36 =@4<65 FA[ 9@H 42? x 6E9:42==J E6== E96> E@ 4@@A6C2E6 H:E9 7656C2= 286?EDnQ q6C86C 2D<65]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 =@DD @7 E92E ECFDE[ 2D H6== 2D DE277:?8[ 7F?5:?8 2?5 6IA6CE:D6[ 4@F=5 92G6 =@?8\=2DE:?8 4@?D6BF6?46D[ D2:5 y62? qCF886>2?[ 4@\6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 2?E:\EC277:4<:?8 @C82?:K2E:@? uC665@> }6EH@C< &$p]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQxEVD 9:EE:?8 E92E E:AA:?8 A@:?E H96C6 :>A@CE2?E A:==2CD 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ 72==[ H9:49 H:== 3C:?8 5@H? E96 6?E:C6 2?E:\EC277:4<:?8 DECF4EFC6[” D96 D2:5] “#63F:=5:?8 :E 4@F=5 E2<6 J62CD]Qk^DA2?mk^Am 0 Comments Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Oklahoma reckons with environmental costs of marijuana industry As illegal grow sites shut down, the land, agricultural equipment and dangerous chemicals are abandoned. Jury duty might sound annoying. It can be far worse than that A 2016 review of research on juries found as many as 50% of jurors had trauma-related symptoms, which for some persisted for months. Watch Now: Related Video Florida gas station hikes prices nearly 25 cents overnight Cornell president breaks silence over alleged campus rape Cornell president breaks silence over alleged campus rape Hakeem Jeffries pressed on whether he will ‘punish’ Dems who break rank Hakeem Jeffries pressed on whether he will ‘punish’ Dems who break rank Wildland-Urban Interface Fires Cause Higher Health Risks Wildland-Urban Interface Fires Cause Higher Health Risks
Government-politics Senate Republicans confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general David Morgan and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff Reuters
Oklahoma reckons with environmental costs of marijuana industry As illegal grow sites shut down, the land, agricultural equipment and dangerous chemicals are abandoned.
Jury duty might sound annoying. It can be far worse than that A 2016 review of research on juries found as many as 50% of jurors had trauma-related symptoms, which for some persisted for months.
