[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
I'M MEGYN KELLY.
WE BEGIN WITH THE STORY OF A
MOTHER'S PROMISE, TO SEEK
JUSTICE FOR HER DAUGHTER.
THAT PROMISE LED THEM ON AN
EIGHT-YEAR JOURNEY THAT ENDED
THIS MONTH AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHEN NICOLE'S DAUGHTER, WHO WE
ARE CALLING J.S., RAN AWAY,
UPSET OVER A BAD GRADE, THE
TEENAGER WAS LURED INTO A
NIGHTMARE SITUATION.
AT JUST 15 YEARS OLD, SHE SAYS
SHE WAS SOLD.
SOLD.
IT'S HAPPENING, IN AMERICA, TO
HUNDREDS OF MEN FOR SEX.
MOSTLY ON THE WEBSITE
BACKPAGE.COM.
AT THE FAMILY'S REQUEST WE'RE
NOT GIVING THEIR FULL NAMES TO
PROTECT THEIR IDENTITIES.
BUT WATCH THIS.
>> MY FAVORITE HOBBIES ARE
COLLECTING PORCELAIN DOLLS AND
PLAYING SOCCER, OF COURSE.
>> Reporter: J.S. GREW UP IN A
TYPICAL MIDDLE-CLASS HOME WITH A
GREAT FAMILY.
>> I WAS A HAPPY KID.
I DID SPORTS, PLAYED MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS, VIOLIN, PIANO.
I WAS REALLY KIND OF LIKE JACK
OF ALL TRADES, WANTING TO DO
EVERYTHING.
I WAS REALLY HAPPY.
>> Reporter: AT 15 YEARS OLD,
SHE STARTED TO FALL BEHIND IN
ONE OF HER CLASSES.
SCARED TO SHOW HER PARENTS HER
REPORT CARD, SHE MADE A PLAN.
>> I RAN AWAY, GOT ON A CITY
BUS.
HAD NEVER DONE THAT.
DIDN'T KNOW HOW CITY BUSES WORK.
EVERYTHING IS FINE.
>> Reporter: SHE MADE HER WAY TO
A HOMELESS SHELTER, WHERE SHE
MET A YOUNG WOMAN WHO PROMISED
TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HER.
THE TWO WENT TO A PARTY WHERE
SHE WAS RAPED.
BEFORE THAT PARTY, SHE WAS A
VIRGIN.
>> I WANTED TO KEEP MY INNOCENCE
FOR A SPECIAL PERSON AND I
WASN'T ABLE TO.
>> Reporter: HE THEN MET A MAN
WHO INVITED HER TO STAY WITH
HIM.
WITHIN DAYS, THE 15-YEAR-OLD WAS
HAVING SEX WITH HOBSON AND
STARTED WORKING FOR HIM AS A
PROSTITU
PROSTITUTE.
HE TOOK PROVOCATIVE PHOTOS AND
POSTED THEM TO BACKPAGE.COM.
>> HE WAS CONVINCING.
>> Reporter: WHILE WORKING FOR
HOBSON, SHE WAS ARRESTED IN A
STING OPERATION, WHERE J.S. TOLD
THE POLICE OFFICER THAT SHE WAS
18 YEARS OLD AND THEY LET HER
GO.
BEFORE SHE LEFT, AN OFFICER TOOK
A PHOTO OF HER.
LATER, AS HER PARENTS KEPT
PUSHING, INVESTIGATORS WERE ABLE
TO USE THAT PHOTO TO TRACK HER
DOWN TO A POSTING ON
BACKPAGE.COM.
AND PLANNED A RESCUE OPERATION
TO SAVE THE 15-YEAR-OLD J.S.
>> TO SEE HER COME HOME AND HAVE
THAT LIGHT GONE OUT OF HER EYES
WAS PAINFUL.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD EVER
RETURN.
>> Reporter: SHE TOLD
INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE WAS SOLD
UP TO 15 TIMES A DAY.
>> SHE HAD LONG, BEAUTIFUL BROWN
HAIR.
SHE HAD A SPARKLE IN HER EYE.
AND I PICKED HER UP AND HER HAIR
WAS VERY SHORT AND CHOPPY AND
HER NAILS WERE DONE.
SHE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE
HERSELF.
I AM LOOKING AROUND THIS PARKING
LOT FOR MY CHILD AND DIDN'T
REALIZE THAT THE CHILD IN THE
BACK OF THE POLICE CAR WAS MY
CHILD.
>> JOINING ME NOW, WE REFER TO
HER AS J.S. IN THE TAPE.
BUT NOW, SHE'S COMFORTABLE USING
HER NAME, JESSICA.
WELCOME, YOU'RE HERE WITH YOUR
MOM, NICOLE.
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
I HAVE TO SAY, NICOLE, WHAT YOU
DID TO SAVE YOUR DAUGHTER IS
NOTHING SHORT OF HEROIC.
WE'RE GOING TO WALK THE AUDIENCE
THROUGH IT BECAUSE THERE ARE
OTHER PARENTS RIGHT NOW WHO
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR
MISSING CHILD OR THE CHILD WHO
HAS CHOSEN TO LEAVE.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.
YOU'RE A SUCCESSFUL KID, RIGHT?
HONOR ROLE.
VARSITY SOCCER?
>> AND WRESTLING.
WENT TO STATE IN WRESTLING.
VIOLINIST.
>> YOU WERE HAPPY.
IT WASN'T A BROKEN FAMILY OR AN
ABUIVE SITUATION.
>> NO.
I HAD GREAT PARENTS, GOOD
SIBLINGS, GOOD IN SCHOOL.
>> HOW IS IT -- YOU GOT A BAD
GRADE, YOUR SIBLING LEFT HOME,
WHAT WAS THE TRIGGER THAT MADE
YOU RUN AWAY?
>> BULLIES IN SCHOOL, GIRLS
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A GIRL
WOULD WANT TO WRESTLE.
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT
MY PARENTS.
AND SO, I FIGURED JUST LEAVING
WOULD TOTALLY -- THEY CAN'T BE
DISAPPOINTED IF I'M NOT THERE.
>> YOU GOT ON A BUS.
>> YEP.
>> AND WOUND UP IN DOWNTOWN --
>> SEATTLE.
>> NOT KNOWING ANYTHING.
>> NOTHING.
I DIDN'T KNOW -- I DIDN'T KNOW
ANY DIRECTIONS, ANYTHING.
>> WE TALK IN THE PIECE ABOUT
THE FACT THAT YOU WERE RAPED.
AND THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR
YOU.
YOU WEREN'T -- YOU DIDN'T SEE
YOURSELF THE SAME AGAIN AFTER
THAT.
>> NO.
>> AFTER THAT, YOU CAME BACK,
YOU WERE RETURNED HOME FOR
ABOUT --
>> TEN DAYS.
>> TEN DAYS AND YOU LEFT AGAIN.
>> I WAS GONE FOR TEN DAYS THE
FIRST TIME I LEFT.
AND I WAS HOME FOR ABOUT TWO
MONTHS.
AND THEN, I LEFT AGAIN.
>> WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE SECOND
TIME?
>> I JUST DIDN'T -- I DON'T
KNOW.
I REALLY WAS DEALING WITH A LOT
OF SHAME.
I DON'T THINK ANY PARENT KNOWS
HOW TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT ON.
I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I
BELONGED THERE.
>> AND THAT'S WHEN, THE SECOND
TIME, WHEN THE SEX TRAFFICKING
STARTED HAPPENING.
>> YES.
>> HOW DO -- HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?
YOUR HEAD?
HOW DO YOU GO FROM A GIRL WHO
HAS BEEN RAPED AND NOT LONG AGO,
WAS THE, QUOTE, NORMAL AMERICAN
GIRL, TO SITTING IN A HOTEL ROOM
WITH, YOU KNOW, YOUR TRAFFICKER,
MAKING YOU SUBJECT YOURSELF TO
15 MEN A DAY?
>> IT HAPPENS FASTER THAN YOU
CAN IMAGINE.
IT'S JUST SO MUCH MANIPULATION.
AT ONE POINT, YOU START
BELIEVING THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE
MEANT TO DO.
THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD
THING.
THEN, YOU JUST SHUT DOWN
MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AND GO
THROUGH THE MOTIONS, NOT
THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE,
JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.
>> HOW LONG WAS THE PERIOD YOU
WERE DOING THAT?
>> 108 DAYS.
AND THE ENTIRE TIME, MOM WAS
FIGHTING IN EVERY WAY SHE KNEW
HOW TO FIND HER DAUGHTER, WHICH
WAS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD BE.
WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU
HEARD OF BACKPAGE.COM?
>> NOT UNTIL THE TRIAL FOR RUDY
HOBSON.
>> YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT
WHEN YOU WERE SEARCHING FOR HER.
>> NOW, IT'S BEEN OUTED.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON OUR SHOW
WHEN WE DID A SHOW ON SEX
TRAFFICKING.
IT'S BASICALLY A CLEARINGHOUSE
FOR YOUNG GIRLS FOR SALE.
IT'S BEEN OPERATING IN AMERICA
FOR A LONG TIME, WITH IMPUNITY
FOR FAR TOO LONG BECAUSE THEY
SAY, IT'S NOT US.
WE DON'T PLACE THE ADS.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY
OVER THE ADS THAT COME IN HERE.
SO, JUST BEFORE THAT, THOUGH,
HOW WAS IT YOU CONNECTED WITH
THE DETECTIVE WHO SAID, I'M
GOING TO FIND HER?
>> WE WERE SEARCHING A DIFFERENT
WEBSITE FOR OUR DAUGHTER.
WE WERE SEARCHING CRAIGSLIST WHO
CAME BEFORE BACKPAGE.
THAT'S WHERE WE WERE LOOKING FOR
HER.
AND BASICALLY, WE CONNECTED WITH
THE DETECTIVE, THROUGH MISSING
PICTURE WANT ADS.
WE WERE DISTRIBUTING FLYERS OF
OUR CHILD EVERYWHERE AND
ANYWHERE WE COULD.
SHE HAD BEEN ARRESTED WHILE SHE
WAS MISSING BUT THEY RETURNED
HER TO THE PIMP BECAUSE THEY
COULDN'T PROVE WHO SHE WAS.
WHEN HE SAW HER MISSING PERSON'S
AD, HE WAS LIKE, I'VE SEEN THIS
CHILD BEFORE.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED
TRYING TO FIND HER AGAIN.
>> HOW DID HE FIND YOU?
>> THEY DID A STING AND ACTED AS
IF THEY WERE SOMEBODY SOLICITING
SEX.
AND ENDED UP ARRESTING ME IN THE
HOTEL ROOM.
>> DID YOU KNOW HE WAS THERE ON
A MISSION FROM YOUR PARENTS?
>> NO.
NOT AT ALL.
>> CAN I JUMP BACK ONE STEP?
THE MEN -- WE TALKED ABOUT THIS
WITH OTHER WOMEN THAT SPOKE OUT
ABOUT THIS.
THE MEN WHO WOULD PAY FOR YOU,
WAS THERE A TYPICAL PROFILE?
WHO WERE THESE GUYS?
>> I REALLY -- I DON'T THINK
THERE'S A PROFILE FOR THEM.
IT'S EVERYBODY.
FATHERS, BUSINESSMEN, LAWYERS,
BLACK, WHITE, ASIAN.
EVERYBODY.
>> YOU SAW GUYS IN SUITS, WITH
WEDDING RINGS COME IN.
>> YEP.
>> DID THEY PAY YOU OR DID THEY
PAY YOUR TRAFFICKER?
>> THEY WOULD GIVE IT TO ME AND
THEN, IF I DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY
AFTERWARDS GIVE IT TO MY
TRAFFICKER, THEN I WOULD BE
BEAT.
AND SO, IT WAS NEVER -- NOTHING
WENT TO ME.
>> WERE YOU LOW DURING THAT
TIME?
WERE YOU HAVING ANY FEELINGS OF
DEPRESSION?
OR WAS IT SOMETHING LIKE, I'M
FREE AND I'VE BROKEN OUT OF THIS
EXISTENCE?
HOW WAS THAT FOR YOU?
>> I WAS DEFINITELY A LOW POINT
IN MY LIFE.
I WAS ASHAMED OF MYSELF.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT MY PARENTS
WOULD EVER WANT ME BACK.
AND I JUST HAD ACCEPTED
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> WE'RE BACK, NOW, WITH
JESSICA AND HER MOM, NICOLE.
WE HAD BEEN HEARING HOW NICOLE
LAUNCHED AN EIGHT-YEAR LEGAL AND
LEGISLATIVE BATTLE TO GET
JUSTICE FOR HER DAUGHTER AFTER
JESSICA WAS SOLD FOR SEX ON
BACKPAGE.COM.
ALSO WITH US, DIRECTOR OF THE
DOCUMENTARY "I AM JANE DOE,"
THAT CHRONICLES THE LEGAL BATTLE
AGAINST BACKPAGE.COM.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE DETECTIVE SAVES YOU.
DO YOU STILL TALK TO HIM?
>> ACTUALLY, YEAH.
>> DO YOU KEEP IN TOUCH EVERY
YEAR?
>> HE CALLS ME ON MY BIRTHDAY
AND HE IS THE GODFATHER OF MY
OLDEST CHILD.
>> I LOVE THAT.
HE EASILY COULD HAVE RETURNED
YOU BACK HOME AND NEVER SPOKEN
TO YOU AGAIN.
>> THINGS LIKE THAT REALLY MAKE
EVERYTHING SO MUCH BETTER.
>> YEAH.
RESTORE YOUR FAITH IN HUMANITY.
NOT ALL MEN ARE MEETING UP IN
HOTEL ROOMS AND TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF 15-YEAR-OLD GIRLS.
SOME MEN RESCUE THEM AND STAY IN
THEIR LIVES FOREVER MORE.
NICOLE, YOU, ONE AFTER THE
OTHER, WENT AFTER EVERYONE.
>> RIGHT.
>> WE STARTED WITH THE SEX
TRAFFICKER.
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
>> HE WAS SENTENCED TO 26 1/2
YEARS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
THEN, YOU DECIDED TO GO AFTER
ONE OF THE JOHNS.
>> WE HAD COMPLETED THAT BATTLE.
AND DETECTIVE SKIER CAME TO US
AND SAID HE NEEDED TO
REINTERVIEW JESSICA.
HE FOUND HER PICTURE ON THE
COMPUTER OF A JOHN.
AND THIS GUY WAS POSING AS A
POLICE OFFICER AND HANDCUFFING
AND DOING JUST EXTRAORDINARY
THINGS TO HIS VICTIMS.
HE GOT 14 YEARS.
>> SHE WASN'T DONE YET.
NOW, SHE DECIDES TO GO AFTER
BACKPAGE.COM, THAT NO ONE HAS
BEEN ABLE TO BRING DOWN.
THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE FOR A
LONG TIME.
THEY RELY ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT
SAYING, YOU CAN'T SHUT US DOWN.
AND NICOLE WINDS UP SUING
BACKPAGE AND PUSHING TO GET THE
LAW CHANGED IN SEVERAL STATES
AND PUSHING FOR NATIONAL
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SHUT DOWN
BACKPAGE AND PROTECT WOMEN
EVERYWHERE.
IN HER TESTIMONY BEFORE
CONGRESS, NICOLE -- THIS IS A
MIDDLE-CLASS WOMAN JUST
FIGHTING.
FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.
SHE TESTIFIES AS FOLLOWS -- THAT
CLAIM TO BE PROTECTING FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME ALLOWING MY LITTLE
GIRL TO BE SOLD ON A WEBSITE AS
A WEEKEND SPECIAL IS WRONG.
AND SHE WON THAT FIGHT, TOO.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MARY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW?
TELL THE AUDIENCE WHAT HAS JUST
HAPPENED TO BACKPAGE?
>> WE CREATED A FILM.
WE HAD A CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING.
AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAID, WE
NEED TO RESPOND TO WHAT THESE
PLAINTIFFS -- THERE'S BEEN
EGREGIOUS WRONG HERE.
WE NEED TO STEP FORWARD.
AND SO, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
AND LAST YEAR, THERE WAS
LEGISLATION THAT WAS FILED IN
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
AND GOOGLE FUNDED GROUPS FOR THE
PRIMARY OPPONENT.
GOOGLE FUNDED GROUPS RUSHED TO
THE AID OF BACKPAGE IN JESS'
CASE AND OTHER CASES AROUND THE
COUNTRY THAT CHILDREN WERE
FILING.
IN BOSTON, THERE WERE CHILDREN
FILING SUIT AND THE COURT
DISMISSED THAT CASE SAYING, EVEN
IF BACKPAGE HAD ENGAGED, IF YOU
WILL, AS A COCONSPIRATOR IN THE
CRIME, BECAUSE OF AN OUTDATED
INTERNET LAW, WE HAVE TO DISMISS
THE CASE.
GO TO CONGRESS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE
DONE.
IN SPITE OF ALL ODDS, THAT
LEGISLATION WAS SIGNED BY THE
PRESIDENT JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.
>> AND NICOLE AND JESSICA STOOD
NEXT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AS HE
SIGNED THAT BILL INTO LAW.
YOU REMEMBER THIS BECAUSE
PRESIDENT TRUMP GETS CREDIT FOR
DOING NOTHING.
THIS WAS A GOOD THING TO DO.
>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
>> IT WAS.
>> AND I HAVE TO SAY, I'M A
LEFTY.
AND SO, I DON'T REALLY AGREE
WITH MANY OF THE PRESIDENT'S
POLICIES.
I WILL SAY, WHEN WE WERE IN
THERE, IN THE OVAL OFFICE, HE
WAS CCOMPASSIONATE.
HE WAS KIND TO NICOLE AND
JESSICA AND ALL OF THE OTHER
SURVIVORS THERE.
HE KEPT RUBBING THE BACK OF ONE
OF THE MOTHERS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WILL YOU STOP.
STOP THAT.
NOT LIKE THAT.
>> HE WAS VERY SYMPATHETIC
BECAUSE HER CHILD WILL NEVER
COME HOME.
IT WAS A RUB OF SYMPATHY.
>> IT WAS A KIND GESTURE.
>> THE KINDEST GESTURE OF ALL
WAS THE SIGNATURE ON THAT BILL,
WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN LONG AGO.
SO, IT'S NOT OVER.
IT'S NOT OVER BECAUSE THE NEXT
STEP, THEY BELIEVE, IS FOREIGN
AGENTS ARE GOING TO TRY TO OPEN
UP THEIR OWN BACKPAGES HERE IN
OUR COUNTRY TO TRY TO AVOID OUR
LAWS.
THIS FIGHT IS ONGOING.
WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.
I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GIVING UP.
I HOPE YOU'RE NOT DONE.
>> WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST
THE OWNERS OF BACKPAGE.
>> THE OWNERS OF BACKPAGE HAVE
BEEN CHARGED.
>> YES.
>> THERE'S SEVEN BACKPAGE
CREATORS AND EMPLOYEES -- NINE
NOW?
>> THEY ARE HELD ON 93 COUNTS.
>> SEVEN WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED
WITH FACILITATING PROSTITUTION
AND OTHER RELATED CRIMES.
THEY HAVE YET TO HAVE THEIR DAY
IN COURT.
BUT THE FOUNDER --
>> THE CEO JUST PLED GUILTY.
SO, THAT IS GOING TO GIVE THE
GOVERNMENT A LOT MORE
INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE ABOUT
WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEHIND THE
SCENES.
>> HE'S TURNED.
>> HE KNEW.
>> I HAVE TO GET TO THIS.
GOOGLE HAS GIVEN A STATEMENT
SAYING, WE HAVE LONG CONTRIBUTED
TO MANY INDEPENDENT
ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR
ADVOCACY ON A WIDE RANGE OF
INTERNET ISSUES INCLUDING
PRIVACY, SURVEILLANCE REFORM AND
THE OPEN INTERNET.
WE DON'T AGREE WITH EVERY GROUP
100% OF THE TIME.
BUT THEY ARE INDEPENDENT AND
AUTONOMOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
>> REALLY?
SORRY.
I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF ON A
RANT.
BUT ONE OF THE PRIMARY OPPONENTS
TO THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN
GOOGLE AND GOOGLE-FUNDED GROUPS.
WE WERE BUMPING INTO THEM UP AND
DOWN THE HILL.
THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY, FOR A
COMPANY WHOSE MOTTO IS DON'T BE
EVIL, TO BE FUNDING GROUPS THAT
WERE SUPPORTING BACKPAGE AND
FILING HUGE BRIEFS IN THE CASES
AGAINST THE CHILDREN AND THE
PLAINTIFF.
>> FOR THEM, IT'S A FIRST
AMENDMENT ISSUE.
BUT THERE'S A QUESTION OF
WHETHER THE FIRST AMENDMENT --
HOW FAR DOES IT GO TO PROTECTING
IN TECHNOLOGY IN THE INTERNET
AGE, A GROUP LIKE THIS, THAT IS
F
FACILITATING REPEATED CRIMES
AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE INNOCENT.
WE REACHED OUT TO ONE OF THE
BACKPAGE DEFENDANTS.
WE WANT TO TELL YOU, THAT IF YOU
OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW MAY BE THE
VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFICKING, CALL
THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING
HOT LINE AT 1-888-373-7888.
WE'LL HAVE THAT AND MORE
INFORMATION AT
TODAY.COM/MEGYNTODAY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
[ APPLAUSE ]