Bill to repeal spousal defense for sex crimes finds fiery Republican opposition

Bill to repeal spousal defense for sex crimes finds fiery Republican opposition

Sen. Susan Lee (D-Montgomery) speaks at a virtual Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing on Wednesday (Screenshot)

@BryanRenbaum

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Wednesday saw the contentious debate over legislation that would repeal the spousal exemption from prosecution for rape and other sexual offenses.

At the heart of the matter were questions related to how consent is communicated in marriage.

The legislation, SB02050-Criminal Law–Sexual Crimes–Repeal of Spousal Defense (Love Is No Defense to Sexual Crimes) is sponsored by Sens. Susan Lee (D-Montgomery) and Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery). Parallel legislation was introduced in the House of Delegates last week. The legislation was previously introduced during the 2020 session.

“This legislation helps place Maryland’s policy in the space from the 17th Century and finally in line with the other 33 states that have eliminated the complete defense to spousal sex crimes when the victim is unable to consent,” Lee said during the virtual hearing.

But some lawmakers said they have concerns about the legislation.

Sen. Bob Cassilly (R-Harford) was one of them.

“The crux of this bill is can a husband or a wife touch the intimate areas of the other person’s body without saying: ‘Can I have permission to touch you?’ Because if there is already a separation, if you have already told them not to and they persist that’s force. And so you don’t have the exception. So this whole bill is about: can you be prosecuted for reaching over and touching your spouse’s intimate area without asking first. Because once they say: ‘stop’, once they say: ‘go away,’ and you persist-you have done that against their wishes and you don’t have the marital exception, right?…The issue is can a spouse lie in bed next to the other spouse and without announcing anything slide their hand onto an intimate area of their body? Because under your bill the minute you do that you have committed a fourth-degree sex offense.”

Lee objected to Cassilly’s premise.

“I think it comes down to consent, implicit or explicit. And you just have to look at the facts. Every case is different. It has to be a case by case basis. If you’re married, and I am, I think you know the difference.”

Cassilly persisted.

“But isn’t the whole purpose of the marital exception so that the courts don’t have to look at the facts? So that we don’t end up in court talking about who said what in the marital bedroom?”

Sen. Jack Bailey (R-Calvert and St. Mary’s) inquired as to whether written consent might eventually become necessary to in order to initiate sexual contact.

“The issue that we are talking about with fourth-degree is how do we grant or gain consent. And as we all know after spending much time in court, if it’s not written down, it didn’t happen. And so is verbal consent going to be enough or do we need written consent?”

Bailey added: “Because as we all know in responding to many different assault cases, people change their minds: ‘Yes. I said ok. But as things went on, no I didn’t.’… Are we going to have a written consent form that is going to be required by the day, by the week, by the month? I just want to know where this is headed.”

Lee dismissed Bailey’s assertion.

“That doesn’t happen. Like I mentioned before, if you are in a marital relationship, you know. You know if there is consent or no consent. I’m married. I think it’s a sacred institution. But I don’t think that being married should give you less protection than cohabitation in this situation. And just to be clear, I don’t think consent to touching does not have to be explicit and most definitely doesn’t have to be in writing.”

Maryland law generally prohibits the prosecution of sexual offenses committed within the confines of marriage. However, there are exceptions under which prosecution can commence such as when the parties no longer cohabitate or if the threat of force is used in the commission of the act.

About The Author

Bryan Renbaum

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Reporter Bryan Renbaum served as the Capitol Hill Correspondent for Talk Media News for the past three-and-a-half years, filing print, radio and video reports on the Senate and the House of Representatives. He covered congressional reaction to the inauguration of President Donald Trump as well as the confirmation hearings of attorneys general Jeff Sessions and William Barr and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He also filed breaking news reports on the 2017 shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and three others. Previously Bryan broke multiple stories with the Baltimore Post-Examiner including sexual assault scandals at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a texting scandal on the women’s lacrosse team at that school for which he was interviewed by ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He also covered the Maryland General Assembly during the 2016 legislative session as an intern for Maryland Reporter. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from McDaniel College. If you have additional questions or comments contact Bryan at: [email protected]

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