Nancy Grace Story on Child Molestation Bill

[TayTay]

Joining me right now is a very special guest joining us out of Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth, do I have Senator Isakson?

Senator Johnny Isakson is from my home jurisdiction of Georgia.
Sir, thank you for being with us.

When you hear Masha speak out, how does it make you feel? And what are you doing about it?
SEN. JOHNNY ISAKSON ®, GEORGIA : Well, it makes me feel, Nancy, exactly like you are. It breaks my heart.

And I‘m on tonight because Senator Kerry, who was the original sponsor of this legislation, is still in the Middle East. But John came to me and shared with me Masha‘s story, the fact that she was a resident in Georgia, and asked me to join with him in a bipartisan effort to bring about some changes.

Nancy, unbeknownst to me, and I think millions of Americans, it was a worse penalty to download music on the Internet illegally than to download child pornography. And what Senator Kerry‘s introduced and I‘ve co-sponsored with him is legislation to triple the minimum that an individual victim can recover against someone who downloads these pictures on the Internet.

Secondly, it would have been illegal for someone who was violated and whose pictures were used to sue for any damages after they reached the age of majority because of the way the law was worded. So we have lifted that sanction to ensure that even if they go to the age of majority, if it‘s learned who they are, and those pictures on the Internet, they can sue and they can recover.

It‘s just a small effort to try to see to it that those victims of this horrible, heinous-type of crime can in some way be compensated and those who violate them can somehow be punished.

GRACE: Mr. Isakson, a lot of America really doesn‘t know what to make of politicians. Many of us have a bad taste in our mouths. But I have got to tell you, sir, what you and Senator Kerry are doing really restores our faith that someone, one person like Masha can make a difference thanks to you and Senator Kerry.

Everyone, tonight, with us, Senator Johnny Isakson, who has drafted along with Kerry and is pushing through Masha‘s Law.

[karynnj]

1. Nice interview

It's very nice that Isakson credited Kerry as he did.

[wisteria]

2. Thank you for posting this. Isakson is a good man to be so gracious

and actually give credit where credit is due,especially since Senator Kerry isn't in the US right now to discuss this legislation himself. I also like the fact that this legislation is bi-partisan. It's heartening to know that some Democrats and Republicans can get along and do some good for us.

[MH1]

3. Really nice.

Thanks for posting!

[ProSense]

4. Great story.

The penalty statement was an eye opener.

[jenndar]

5. I'm really impressed with Isakson here

because you can't fake graciousness like that, and because this legislation is really important.

[whometense]

6. Lovely!!

And all too rare, as we are all painfully aware.