Rob Portman

I think there is a consensus building in this country that we do need to do some things immediately to put America back in a position of being trusted and respected by our allies and our adversaries.

To be in Venezuela and to see families whose loved ones are in prison for political reasons and looking to us to change that.

I believe the world is at its best when America leads.

I believe, like Senator Cornyn said, that it is very, very possible that you are, in fact, an inspired choice.

We understand the importance of diplomacy and all of us know the one percent of the U.S. budget that we spend on efforts like Mr. Tillerson may lead.

Rob, it has gone from the street corner to the iPhone.

There is an increased awareness here in the U.S. Senate... and that is good.

The fact that they took down their adult section last night... that will save some kids.

This is, again, a hearing focused on Backpage. As you say, they are a big player in this.

Most people have not.

I just cannot imagine the frustration, the pain you must have felt.

We are always on the side of right when we are fighting to protect our children.

Your testimony also helps us as a practical matter to understand how the current laws are affecting families and our constituents.

Kubiiki, thank you for your willingness to share your family's story, and to each of you, Tom, Nacole, and Kubiiki, thank you for your advocacy for not just your daughters but for children everywhere.

It is time to admit the truth to ourselves that this was never about protecting the Constitution.

Accommodation for Backpage.com's responsiveness and thoroughness with law enforcement investigations and stings are replete in our records.

As far as I know, this Subcommittee is the first to report that information.

I went to law school, so did Senator McCaskill, and we do not remember learning that instructions to cover up a crime are protected speech.

I would like to direct you to a couple documents about that so-called editorial decisionmaking.

Again, the Subcommittee respects that assertion of the Fifth Amendment.

Is the reason you needed to 'stay away from the very idea of `editing' the posts' that you knew that editing posts means that you really do not have this protection under the Communications Decency Act?

It is not hard to guess why you did not want anybody to know about that.

Let us talk about the role that you and Mr. Lacey have played in the concealment practices we have reported on this morning.

Back in 2014, it was reported that Backpage was sold to a mysterious Dutch entity, as you know.

The answer is, of course, no. The fact that these terms were stripped out through this screening process does not mean that that girl's age was magically changed.