Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said, “Braden’s Law is one more positive step towards ensuring protection for children online across Ohio.” He shared these remarks in a January 9 post on X.
“Lt. Governor Jon Husted joined Gov. Mike DeWine and the Markus Family for the signing of HB 531, or Braden’s Law, which criminalizes sextortion,” said Husted, Lt. Governor. “Braden’s Law is one more positive step towards ensuring protection for children online across Ohio.”
In his post, Husted shared a video from the signing of Braden’s Law, where he emphasized the importance of communication between parents and children. “This is a crime that is being perpetrated on young people across the country and across the state,” he said. “There have been more victims – James Woods and others we have come to know over time. So, moms and dads, just make sure you let your children know that they can come talk to you about anything. These kinds of things happen, everybody makes mistakes. You’ve got to open the line of communication, make sure your children know there’s a trusted adult in their home or at school they can talk to in case something goes wrong in their cyber world,” Husted added during the signing of House Bill 531.
Braden Markus was a senior at Olentangy High School in 2023 when he fell victim to a sextortion plot and subsequently took his own life. An individual pretending to be a girl sent intimate photos and demanded that Markus send similar images. After complying, the online predator threatened to release the photos unless Markus paid $1,800. Less than half an hour after this initial contact, Markus took his own life, according to the Braden Markus Foundation.
Braden’s Law classifies sextortion as a third-degree felony and facilitates parental access to their deceased child’s digital files if they die as minors. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Beth Lear and Brian Lorenz in the House. It passed the House on June 26 and moved to the Senate, where it passed on December 18 before reaching Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for signature on December 30.
Husted was adopted and raised in Northwest Ohio’s Williams County and earned multiple degrees from the University of Dayton. Before entering public service, he served as vice president at the Dayton-Area Chamber of Commerce. According to his official biography, Husted has held positions as Ohio Secretary of State and House Speaker before being elected Lt. Governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022. He resides with his wife Tina and their three children.
