TAKING A STAND

GOP Rep. Demands Removal of Stanford Rape Judge

Ted Poe of Texas.

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) on Thursday demanded the removal of Judge Aaron Persky, who presided over the Stanford sexual-assault case. Poe took to the floor of the House to call attention to the “pathetic” sentencing that student Brock Turner received last week. Poe said Persky “got it wrong” when he sentenced Turner with only six months of jail time and three years of probation. “The judge should be removed and the rapist should do more time for the dastardly deed,” Poe said. “I hope the appeals court… overturns the pathetic sentence and gives him the punishment he deserves.” Persky has said “a prison sentence would have a severe impact on [Turner].” Poe responded in the House: “Well isn’t that the point? The punishment for rape should be longer than a semester in college.”