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Vitter Stays Mum on Rape Vote

Three weeks after David Vitter's controversial vote against a bipartisan anti-rape provision, Louisiana’s junior Senator has yet to offer any explanation for his vote.

On October 6, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan amendment to the Defense Department Appropriation bill to prevent taxpayer money from going to companies who sweep rape allegations under the rug. The so-called Franken amendment was inspired by Jamie Leigh Jones, who was drugged and gang-raped by co-workers while working in Iraq.

Vitter was one of only 30 Republicans – all men – who voted against the Franken Amendment. He has not explained his vote.

"Since David Vitter has refused to explain himself to the women and families of Louisiana, we can only guess what was going on in his head when he voted to protect taxpayer-funded companies who sweep rape and sexual assault under the rug," said Louisiana Democratic Party Communications Director Natalie Naquin Harvey.

Representative Charlie Melancon (D-Napoleonville) supports the amendment and has written a letter to colleagues insisting that it remain in the final bill once a conference committee reconciles the versions passed by the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

"We cannot undo the tragic story of what happened to Jamie Leigh Jones, but we can go a long way to making sure it doesn't happen again. If a company wants to receive taxpayer dollars, they should not be able to force victims to give up their constitutional rights as a condition of employment," Melancon wrote in an email to supporters yesterday.