Buckeye Reporter

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted expressed gratitude to legislators for passing "Braden's Law," aimed at protecting children from sextortion and online predators. He made this statement in a post on December 19 on X.

"This is an important day for Ohio as we honor the memory of Braden Markus, James Woods, and so many others we have lost to sextortion and online predators," said Husted, Lt. Governor. "I want to thank the Ohio legislature for passing Braden's Law, a critical step in protecting our children and supporting families in their time of need."

According to the Braden Markus Foundation, Braden Markus was a senior at Olentangy High School in 2023 when he became a victim of a sextortion scheme and subsequently took his own life. An individual posing as a girl sent intimate photos to Markus and demanded that he reciprocate. After complying, the online predator threatened to release the images unless Markus paid $1,800. Less than half an hour after the initial contact, Markus ended his life.

Screenshot of Lt. Gov. Jon Husted's Dec. 19 post on X | X

Husted said, "Braden’s law creates meaningful safeguards, including criminalizing the threat to release private images, granting immunity to victims of sextortion, and expediting access to digital records when a minor tragically passes away." He added that for families like Markus's, who faced uncertainty before accessing crucial phone records, this law offers significant relief during difficult times. Husted emphasized the importance of children communicating with trusted adults if they make mistakes or feel embarrassed.

Braden’s Law classifies sextortion as a third-degree felony and facilitates parental access to their deceased child's digital files if the child dies as a minor. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Beth Lear and Brian Lorenz in the House. It passed the House on June 26 and moved through the Senate on December 18; it now awaits Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature.

Husted has a background rooted in Northwest Ohio's Williams County where he was adopted and raised. He holds multiple degrees from the University of Dayton and previously served as vice president at the Dayton-Area Chamber of Commerce before entering public service. His career includes roles as Ohio Secretary of State and House Speaker. First elected Lt. Governor in 2018, Husted was reelected in 2022 alongside his wife Tina; they have three children.