Are there any members of Congress trained to investigate Sex Crimes?

By Vicki Polin

Does anyone know if anyone on the “Republican Party’s” Senate Judiciary Committee has any specialized training in dealing with allegations of sex crimes?

To the best of my knowledge, not one member has an advanced degree in counseling, social work or psychology, let alone a degree in law enforcement. 

As a mental health professional who has been involved in the anti rape field for nearly thirty-five years, I am outraged at the behavior of these men who were elected to represent their constituent, and not their own personal egos.

If the Republican Party really wants American citizens to take their actions seriously regarding the accusations against Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh who allegedly assaulted Christine Blasey Ford — they will utilize the sex crimes unit of the FBI.  

The FBI’s sex crime unit is a group of highly trained law enforcement officials.  They have been trained in gathering forensic evidence, they know how to conduct forensic and victim sensitive interviews.  Members of Congress are NOT!

To allow any committee in Congress to conduct an investigation involving an alleged sex crime is a sham. It’s the same as calling on them to running into a burning building to put out the fire.

I personally believe if the Republican Party’s Senate Judiciary Committee continues to refuse to utilize the expertise of the FBI, then as America. Citizens we all need to be asking the following questions:

Does any members of Congress in the House of Representatives or Senate (Republican and or Democrats) have any specialized training in investigating sex crimes?

Do any members of Congress have specialized training in collecting forensic evidence?  

Do any members of Congress have specialized training in conducting forensic and or victim sensitive interviews?

The answer to these questions is NO.  Because of that we all MUST DEMAND that members of Congress refer all cases involving allegations of sex crimes to the FBI. 

Like in all allegation of sex crimes, it should be up to law enforcement officials to determine if there is enough evidence for criminal charges to be proceed. It should also be up to legal authorities to determine if a case is valid or not.

I want to encourage every American citizen to call ALL elected officials in their community about the current systems they have in place when allegations are made. Please make it a point to ask:

1. If the elected official  has personally conducted investigations of possible sex crimes themselves?

2. If they have, what process do they go through to make a determination if a case is valid or not?

3. If the elected official determined the allegations are valid:

a) What happens to the alleged offender?

b) What happens to the alleged survivor?

4 If the elected official determined the allegations were not valid:

a) What happens to the alleged offender?

b) What happens to the alleged survivor?

If elected officials are like other institutional leaders, they will say that “they can look in the eyes of someone making the accusations”, and or they “can tell if they are telling the truth or not”.  Most elected officials will also disclose that they have determined most cases were not valid by utilizing this method.

There have also been many cases in history where an elected official will say that "there was no need to conduct an investigation." The elected official would explain that they "personally know the accused individual", and basically because the alleged offender is a friend, "the allegations are false."