The Idaho Legislature has passed a bill allowing the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually abusing children age 12 and younger. House Bill 380 now heads to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration.

The bill, cosponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, and House Assistant Majority Leader Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, introduces a new charge: aggravated lewd conduct with children age 12 and younger, which would be eligible for the death penalty. It also establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for aggravated lewd conduct with minors under age 16 that do not qualify for the death penalty.

The bill passed the Senate on a 30-5 vote, with opposition from three Democrats and two Republicans. The House had previously approved it unanimously, 63-0, with seven members absent. Once transmitted to Gov. Little, he will have five days, excluding Sundays, to either sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it. If enacted, the law would take effect July 1.

Supporters Say Bill Sends a Clear Message

Skaug has argued that Idaho has some of the most lenient child rape laws in the country. Sen. Doug Ricks, R-Rexburg, a cosponsor, said the bill ensures severe consequences for the worst offenders.

“Unlike most states, Idaho currently lacks mandatory minimum sentences for these horrific crimes — meaning judges have the discretion to place the worst offenders on probation,” Ricks told the Senate. “This legislation ensures that those who commit the most severe offenses against children face significant consequences, sending a clear message that Idaho will not tolerate the sexual abuse of minors.”

Currently, Idaho law only allows the death penalty for first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances.

Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, opposed the bill, stating that while child abuse should carry severe penalties, this bill represents a significant policy shift for the state.

“Unfortunately, I only heard from four sources regarding this bill. And that feels very uncomfortable, when I think we need a vigorous and long debate and discussion,” Wintrow said.

Potential Legal Challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008) that imposing the death penalty for child rape is unconstitutional. However, Florida passed a similar law in 2023, followed by Tennessee in 2024.

Anticipating a legal challenge, Skaug told lawmakers he believes the Supreme Court could rule differently today.

“You can say, ‘Well, that’s unconstitutional, Bruce. Why would you bring that?’ Well, it was — according to a 5-4 decision in 2008. I don’t think that would be the case today,” Skaug, an attorney, told lawmakers. “That’s my professional opinion. That’s the opinion of many other attorneys.”

Skaug has stated that the death penalty would be rarely pursued under this bill. Currently, Idaho has nine inmates on death row.

Concerns Over Legal Ramifications

During a Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee hearing, David Martinez of the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified against the bill, warning that it could apply more broadly than intended.

“The bill doesn’t focus on ‘the worst of the worst,’ could potentially expose victims to decades of reliving trauma, and fails to account for Idaho’s shortage of qualified death penalty defense attorneys,” Martinez said.

The bill lists more than a dozen aggravating factors for seeking the death penalty, and Martinez argued that many cases would qualify under those criteria.

Holly Rebholtz, representing the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, disagreed, stating that aggravated lewd conduct cases would be rare.

“I don’t think these crimes are going to come into play very often. But when they do, they are the most serious crimes we see. And again, the prosecutors believe that the most serious crimes against children deserve a serious punishment,” Rebholtz testified.

Skaug estimated that, in a worst-case scenario, the bill could lead to two death penalty cases per year, with costs reaching up to $1 million per case.

Opposition From Some Republicans

Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, a retired police officer and combat veteran, voted against the bill, arguing that society is blurring the line between justice and revenge.

“I see society starting to go down a dangerous road here. Not just with this bill, but in general — where we are starting to equate revenge with justice. And that’s a slippery slope,” Foreman said.

Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, countered that the bill is about accountability, not retribution.

“When I look at the types of circumstances that would lead to these charges — and I think about the irreparable and irreversible damage done to a child who then has to live with the consequences of these actions upon them for the rest of their lives — I think this is about accountability and about how we value life,” she said.

Second Attempt at Passing a Similar Bill

This is the second time Skaug and Tanner have introduced a child sex abuse death penalty bill. Last year, their proposal passed the House but never received a hearing in the Senate.

The new bill also establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for aggravated lewd conduct with minors under 16. The minimum sentence would be 25 years in prison.

Under the bill, lewd conduct includes, but is not limited to, “genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact, anal-genital contact, oral-anal contact, manual-anal contact, or manual-genital contact” when intended to arouse, appeal to, or gratify “lust or passions or sexual desires.”

Gov. Little’s decision on the bill is expected in the coming days.

An FBI agent who was openly critical of the bureau during President Donald Trump’s first term has been arrested and charged with disclosing confidential information.

Johnathan Buma, a veteran agent with 15 years of service, was taken into custody on Monday at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City as he was preparing to board an international flight, according to an arrest affidavit.

Buma allegedly printed approximately 130 classified FBI documents and messages, later sharing them with associates while working on a book about his time at the agency.

“The book draft contained information that BUMA obtained through his position as an FBI Special Agent that relates to the FBI’s efforts and investigations into a foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction (‘WMD’) program,” according to the court document. “On November 2, 2023, BUMA wrote an email to various personal associates assisting him in negotiating a book deal with a publishing company.”

In addition to sharing excerpts of the book containing confidential information on social media, the court documents state that Buma had a history of conflicts with the bureau.

In 2022, he began raising concerns about the FBI’s handling of certain investigations, voicing them to various government agencies, Congress, and media outlets. In a September 2023 interview with Insider, Buma claimed that he was dismissed when he approached a superior about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani potentially being compromised in a Russian counter-influence operation. However, when he mentioned Hunter Biden’s alleged business dealings with Ukrainian energy company Burisma, his superior was “very interested.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Buma’s attorney for comment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California stated that Buma was charged with one misdemeanor count of disclosing confidential information and was released on a $100,000 bond.

His case adds to ongoing debates about internal conflicts within the FBI and the handling of politically sensitive investigations.

SOURCE: FOX NEWS

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is ramping up pressure on the FBI and IRS to release unredacted records related to Jeffrey Epstein, insisting the public deserves full transparency regarding his associates and financial dealings.

In a letter addressed to newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel and acting IRS Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell, Blackburn, 72, demanded the agencies provide “complete, unredacted records” regarding Epstein, including flight logs, surveillance footage, and financial documents.

“This critical information identifying every individual who could have participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s abhorrent conduct is long overdue,” Blackburn wrote. “The survivors of Mr. Epstein’s horrific crimes want transparency and accountability, and they—and the American people—deserve nothing less.”

Epstein, a disgraced financier with high-profile connections, was arrested in July 2019 on federal child sex trafficking charges. He was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell a month later, with the official ruling being suicide. His death has fueled years of speculation and demands for answers regarding his extensive network of associates.

Demands for Full Disclosure

Blackburn is specifically seeking the unredacted flight logs from Epstein’s private jet and helicopter, along with his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s records, including the infamous “little black book.” Additionally, she is calling for the release of surveillance footage from Epstein’s Palm Beach residence, which was allegedly a hub for his illicit activities.

While redacted versions of these documents have previously surfaced online or been included in lawsuits, Blackburn argues that the full versions must be made public. “Since Mr. Epstein’s death in 2019, there is still much about this tragic case that is not known—including the names of his associates that are listed in the flight logs of his private jet and in Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘little black book,’” she wrote.

Beyond the FBI, Blackburn is also pressing the IRS for records detailing Epstein and Maxwell’s financial dealings. She is requesting “any and all” documents revealing individuals and entities that had financial relationships with them.

FBI Director Patel’s Pledge

During his confirmation hearing last month, Patel assured Blackburn that he would “absolutely” work with her to bring more transparency to Epstein’s case files. However, it remains unclear how far he will go in releasing sensitive documents, particularly given past concerns over revealing the names of individuals who met with Epstein but were not implicated in criminal activity.

Blackburn has been a consistent advocate for obtaining these records. She previously urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to subpoena the files and pressed former FBI Director Christopher Wray on the issue. In December 2023, Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee that his team would “figure out if there’s more information we can provide” on Epstein, but no follow-up information was ever released.

“Director Wray never provided any such follow-up information,” Blackburn noted in her letter to Patel. “Over a year has elapsed since then, and we still do not have all of the necessary information regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.”

The demand for transparency on Epstein’s network is gaining momentum. Last week, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that Epstein’s client list is “sitting on my desk” as it undergoes review for potential release.

As the pressure mounts, Patel and O’Donnell now face a crucial decision: whether to follow through on their promises of transparency or continue withholding key documents that could shed light on one of the most notorious criminal cases of the century. The American people, as Blackburn asserts, are watching—and waiting.