Steve Hilton tells Gov. Newsom: ‘Condemn Democrats’ Sick Smears or Be Complicit’

California Democrats last week blocked a bill to make purchasing sex from 16-17-year-olds a felony, the Globe reported. Assemblywoman Maggie Krell (D-Sacramento) and Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) authored AB 379 to make solicitation of sex from anyone under 18 a felony.

Here is the Assembly vote:

Democrats hijacked Krell’s bill, removed the provision for the age cap for soliciting older minors, took her name off of the bill and replaced it with the Assembly Public Safety Chairman Nick Schultz’s (D-Burbank). Krell, a former Deputy Attorney General who prosecuted sex crimes, said Democrats forced her to agree to it or the bill would not be heard by the Public Safety committee.

What happened next shows just how low California Democrats will go.

“The California Democratic Party now has ads on Facebook claiming Republicans ‘voted against stronger laws protecting 16 and 17 year olds…'” Ashley Zavala with KCRA reported on X Sunday evening. “They actually voted against changes to a bill stating ‘legislative intent’ which has no impact on law.

“The California Democratic Party started running misleading ads on the fight over whether it should be a felony to buy 16/17 year olds for sex. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ campaign pushed them. No comment yet from the party chair, Rusty Hicks.”

Democrats’ “Orwellian” behavior is nauseating. “Orwellian” applies as “it encroaches on individual freedoms, subverts democratic processes, employs language in a deceptive and manipulative manner to control perception and behavior.”

Bazinga!

“As we’re reporting this AM, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ campaign is pushing the ads. I’ve asked Elizabeth Ashford, the campaign’s PR consultant for info. Nothing yet,” Zavala continued.

Midday, Steve Hilton’s gubernatorial campaign issued a press statement: “Steve Hilton Demands Gavin Newsom Break His Silence on Disgusting Smear Ads Blaming Republicans for What Democrats Did.”

Hilton, candidate for California governor, “sent Gavin Newsom a letter today calling on the Governor to immediately denounce the California Democratic Party’s vile smear campaign: false political ads accusing Republican lawmakers of protecting child predators.”

In his letter to Newsom, Hilton writes:

“Honestly, what on earth do you think you and your party are doing? I suppose you think that after 15 years of one-party Democrat rule, you can get away with literally anything. Well, those days are over. You and I know each other, and I know that you’re better than this.”

“Intent means nothing. Action is everything. Your party took action to protect predators, not children. That alone is shameful. But it gets worse… These Republicans, like my friend Assemblyman Josh Hoover, fought to protect kids. He has children of his own. And now he’s being smeared in a grotesque effort to cover up the truth.”

“These lies are defamation, plain and simple. There should be consequences.”

The press statement continues:

“The truth? Democrats in the State Assembly blocked Assembly Bill 379, legislation that would have made it an automatic felony to purchase 16- and 17-year-olds for sex. The bill, authored by a Democrat and backed by anti-trafficking advocates and the entire Republican caucus, was gutted by the Democrat-controlled Assembly and replaced with empty intent language.

“And now, instead of taking responsibility, Democrats are running taxpayer-funded political ads falsely blaming Republicans for their own vote.

Hilton also reminded Newsom of his own words:

“You said, ‘The law should treat all sex predators who solicit minors the same — as a felony, regardless of the intended victim’s age. Full stop.’ Well, your party just did the opposite, again.”

“Despite being the leader of the California Democratic Party, Newsom has said nothing about these dishonest ads. Hilton calls that what it is: complicity.

“Gavin, come on. You know this is wrong. If you truly believe what you’ve said, then act like it. Condemn your party’s actions. Denounce the lies. Demand these ads be pulled immediately, and donate the remaining funds to groups helping victims of sex trafficking.”

“Hilton closed the letter with a warning to Newsom, who is widely expected to run for president in 2028:

“Unless you take action, you can be sure that the vile, cynical, morally bankrupt behavior we have witnessed from Democrats in California these past few days will become indelibly attached to your campaign for the presidency in 2028.”

There aren’t enough adjectives to describe Democrats’ depraved behavior.

Read Steve Hilton’s full letter here.