Biden DOJ Cuts Deal With Progressive Shelby County DA To Cease Prosecutions For Aggravated Prostitution In Shelby County As HIV Rates Skyrocket

Image Credit: scdag.com – The White House Baiden-Harris / CC – Memphis Pride Fest / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –

Last month, Biden’s Department of Justice announced they had entered into a deal with Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy to cease the enforcement of Tennessee criminal code that prosecutes those who are arrested for prostitution and doing so while knowingly afflicted with the HIV virus. 

The Department of Justice accused Shelby County of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by targeting sex workers who have HIV. They called the practice discriminatory because HIV is included as a disability under the ADA. 

The DOJ told Shelby County that they can continue to prosecute violations for prostitution without the enhancement that elevates the charges to that of a felony and adds penalties as a “violent sexual offense”. 

Senator Brent Taylor has sent a letter to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti asking for intervention in the matter, as it is the second time in the past couple of years where Shelby County is being enabled to stop enforcing laws that are made and passed by the state legislature, and with or without the signature of Governor Lee, have become law in the state. 

In his letter to Skrmetti, Senator Taylor asks 3 questions of AG Skrmetti, which includes:

(1) Is the unprecedented agreement between Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and the United States Department of Justice a legal agreement in the state of Tennessee? 

(2)  Why did the United States Department of Justice choose to attack state law by reaching an agreement with Shelby County’s District Attorney rather than challenging the law in court where your office would more vigorously defend the actions of the Tennessee General Assembly? 

(3) Under Tennessee statute, the legislature has given you the authority to assign a special prosecutor when a District Attorney refuses to prosecute a category of crimes. Although before my term as senator, I believe the legislative intent was for the Attorney General to assign a special prosecutor to prosecute any crimes a local district attorney categorically declines to prosecute. District Attorney Mulroy’s dereliction toward aggravated prostitution seems to be tailor-made for such an appointment of a special prosecutor. Do you believe you have this authority and, if so, will you consider appointment of a special prosecutor for this purpose? 

This DOJ/Shelby County DA deal comes after recent reports by the Shelby County Health Department showing an alarming increase of STDs and HIV in Shelby County. 

According to the Shelby County Health Department, since 2018, HIV rates increased 40 percent among those 15- to-19 years old and increased 36 percent among the entire population. 

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) responded early to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by providing disability benefits beginning in 1983 to people diagnosed with AIDS. In 1993, it adopted disability criteria for HIV (i.e., the HIV Infection Listings) as an administrative tool to more rapidly adjudicate claims.

In his letter to the AG, Senator Taylor characterizes the views of the laws regarding aggravated prostitution as “misguided” and that it “damages the prosecutorial discretion of our state’s remaining District Attorneys General and gives defendants accused of aggravated prostitution unfounded ammunition throughout Tennessee.” 

Taylor added, “Moreover, this now marks the second time the Shelby County District Attorney has been a party to an action which resulted in different enforcement of laws in Shelby County compared to the rest of the state. The first was Friends of George v. Mulroy, which effectively enjoined the enforcement of protecting children from sexually explicit cabaret shows in Shelby County. It seems as if outside groups are now purposely targeting Shelby County to advance their progressive goals and Restorative Justice Schemes due to our acquiescent and compliant district attorney. This denies Shelby County residents equal application of laws duly passed by the Tennessee General Assembly. It must be stopped!”

Memphis hosted their Pride events the first weekend in June posting photos on social media that include underage minors present at the parade downtown, where there were also events called “Big Gay Dance Party” “Drag and Drive” and “Drag Brunch with the Grand Marshalls (of the parade)”. 

None of these events had an age limitation on access or tickets. 

Taylor ended his request to the AG for assistance by adding, “I need help from your office to address his (Mulroy’s) compliant and acquiescent behavior in this unprecedented agreement with the United States Department of Justice to not prosecute aggravated prostitution despite our laws to the contrary, and the unprecedented rate of HIV in Shelby County which is endangering the lives of Memphians.”

As of the printing of this article, there has not been a response received by AG Skrmetti’s office. We will continue to cover this story as it develops. 

About the Author: Kelly Jackson is an escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers, she has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member.  An outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty, Kelly also has a YouTube channel @Tennessee_Truth_Teller and is planning on expanding out to other channels soon. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.