Emotional testimony for revenge porn law in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - The Minnesota House public safety committee passed a bill Tuesday that would criminalize revenge porn. Revenge porn is sexually explicit media that is distributed without the consent of those involved -- it is often posted with the intention of humiliating or harassing someone.

Tuesday morning, lawmakers heard the tearful testimony of a 21-year-old revenge porn victim who was unknowingly filmed by her boyfriend 2 years ago. She thought the video was deleted, but he recently threatened to share the video.

"My testimony will never fully allow you to feel the fear I am feeling," she said.

Legislation has been passed in 26 states to criminalize and define revenge porn. An effort to criminalize revenge porn in Minnesota was struck down last year by a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling that found the law to be overbroad and unconstitutional.

Teresa Nelson of the American Civil Liberties Union-Minnesota said the bill, authored by Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul), could still be unconstitutional in its current form. She said she wants to work with Rep. Lesch to ensure the proposed law can be upheld in court.

Read a copy of the current bill at http://bit.ly/22Z1IkQ