Backpage.com’s CEO Is No-Show at Senate Hearing

Backpage.com’s CEO Is No-Show at Senate Hearing

WASHINGTON — Senators investigating sex trafficking blasted the CEO of Backpage.com for failing to show up at a hearing this week despite being subject to a subpoena.

U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) also are considering Justice Department to examine the case for a possible charge of criminal contempt of Congress.

Portman said the committee called Backpage.com CEO Carl Ferrer to testify about the site’s adult services advertising pages.

But Ferrer’s attorneys told the committee the day before the hearing that he would be out of the country and that were he to testify he would likely invoke his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination.

At the hearing, a representative from the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children (NCEMC), testified that 71 percent of child sex trafficking reports submitted to its tipline relate to Backpage.com. The rep cited several Backpage.com business practices inconsistent with the center's standards.

Portman said it “may justify a referral to the Department of Justice for criminal contempt” and noted that Ferrer’s decision not to testify “a clear act of contempt.”

Just this week, a federal appeals court ordered the Cook County Sheriff’s Department to halt lobbying major credit card companies that do business with Backpage.com.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart was sued by Backpage in July after he successfully placed pressure on Visa and MasterCard to stop processing credit card transactions for Backpage. Dart said the the pressure was necessitated by “years of growth in the ... sex trade.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Show More