• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Lawmaker Who Lost Son to Suicide Gives Testimony to Senate

Lawmaker Who Lost Son to Suicide Gives Testimony to Senate

February 21, 2025
NEWT GINGRICH: Beyond The August Recess

NEWT GINGRICH: Beyond The August Recess

July 26, 2025
CBS Trades One 60 Minutes Liberal Insider For Another

CBS Trades One 60 Minutes Liberal Insider For Another

July 25, 2025
JENNY BETH MARTIN: No Amnesty: America’s Immigration System Must Respect The Rule Of Law

JENNY BETH MARTIN: No Amnesty: America’s Immigration System Must Respect The Rule Of Law

July 25, 2025
Dem Admits Party’s Epstein Files Attack Line Is ‘Bulls*it’

Dem Admits Party’s Epstein Files Attack Line Is ‘Bulls*it’

July 25, 2025
‘It’s Important We Send A Message’: Tom Homan Tells Stephen A. Smith Why Trump Admin Can’t Only Deport Criminals

‘It’s Important We Send A Message’: Tom Homan Tells Stephen A. Smith Why Trump Admin Can’t Only Deport Criminals

July 25, 2025
Arizona Woman Sentenced For Scheme Helping North Koreans Steal American Jobs

Arizona Woman Sentenced For Scheme Helping North Koreans Steal American Jobs

July 25, 2025
Corporate Media Mostly Sidestepping Russiagate Revelations For Torrent Of Trump-Epstein Coverage

Corporate Media Mostly Sidestepping Russiagate Revelations For Torrent Of Trump-Epstein Coverage

July 25, 2025
Carteles en México Usan Choques Con Camiones Para Atacar Autoridades

Carteles en México Usan Choques Con Camiones Para Atacar Autoridades

July 25, 2025
Cartel Gunmen in Mexico Use New Tactic to Hide Police Attacks — Fake Crashes

Cartel Gunmen in Mexico Use New Tactic to Hide Police Attacks — Fake Crashes

July 25, 2025
Trump Admin Returns Education Grants It Accused Of Funding Illegal Immigrants

Trump Admin Returns Education Grants It Accused Of Funding Illegal Immigrants

July 25, 2025
Democrats Using Time Off To Travel To Red States, Try Convincing People Trump’s Bad

Democrats Using Time Off To Travel To Red States, Try Convincing People Trump’s Bad

July 25, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Demands Answers On Migrant Children Rescued At Marijuana Farm

EXCLUSIVE: GOP Demands Answers On Migrant Children Rescued At Marijuana Farm

July 25, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Saturday, July 26, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home FaithTap

Lawmaker Who Lost Son to Suicide Gives Testimony to Senate

by Andrew Powell
February 21, 2025 at 7:22 am
in FaithTap, News
247 5
0
Lawmaker Who Lost Son to Suicide Gives Testimony to Senate

South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey speaks at a press conference after the US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis," in Washington, DC, on January 31, 2024. Guffey's oldest son, Gavin, committed suicide after he became a victim of sextortion in July 2022. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey (R) gave an emotional testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Children’s Safety in the Digital Era.

According to Fox News, Guffey lost his teenage son, Gavin, to suicide almost three years ago, when he became the victim of online scammers who attempted to extort money from him after he sent explicit photos of himself to someone he met online.

During the committee meeting on Wednesday, Guffey said that “big tech is the big tobacco of this generation.”

“Protecting youth from online dangers and holding big tech companies responsible is now my life’s mission,” Guffey told senators, before recounting the night his son took his own life.

A scammer, identified as Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, was impersonating a girl on Instagram and persuaded Gavin to use the app’s “vanish mode” to send explicit photos. This feature allows messages to disappear after they are seen.

The scammer then threatened to release the photos unless Gavin paid him. Gavin, who only had $25 in his account, sent the money, but the scammer demanded more. Tragically, Gavin took his own life as a result.

Lawal did not stop there. Guffey testified to the committee that Lawal had continued to harass him, his son, and his teen cousin. Lawal was indicted by a Grand Jury in October 2023, and was extradited to the United States from Lagos, Nigeria. He faces the possibility of life in prison.

Shortly after taking office, Guffey successfully passed a law in honor of his son. Gavin’s Law makes sextortion, the act of blackmailing someone with explicit images or videos, a felony in South Carolina.

The offense is upgraded to an aggravated felony if the victim is a minor or if there are other aggravating circumstances, as outlined in the law. Additionally, Gavin’s Law mandates that South Carolina schools educate students about the dangers of sextortion.

“One of the messages I received read ‘did I tell you your son begged for his life?’ I hope you ask how is this possible? It’s possible because Instagram removed the profile that attacked Gavin but left up the additional profiles that predators use. One of those is the account that began to attack my family after Meta was fully aware of this predator.” Guffey said.

Guffey said it was from that moment he decided to make it his life’s mission to protect children online.

“Sextortion is mandated in education throughout the state of South Carolina, and every kid needs to have at least some awareness, so they don’t feel alone like my son did that night,” Guffey added.

Guffey then called out other lawmakers for not implementing tougher laws, and asked if it would take them losing their own families to make them do something.

“I’ve witnessed over 40 teens take their lives since Gavin, just due to sextortion, while we lawmakers fight amongst ourselves. Will it take one of your own children or grandchildren to finally get fed up enough to move?” he said.

Watch the videos below:

Brandon Guffey's opening statement (1/3) pic.twitter.com/jPSGAaNRCU

— ScreenSlayerFund (@ScreenSlayerFND) February 19, 2025

Brandon Guffey's opening statement (2/3) pic.twitter.com/FzoaFL0kY0

— ScreenSlayerFund (@ScreenSlayerFND) February 19, 2025

Brandon Guffey's opening statement (3/3) pic.twitter.com/fofESWCafc

— ScreenSlayerFund (@ScreenSlayerFND) February 19, 2025
Tags: Big TechGavin's LawMetaRep. Brandon GuffeySuicideU.S.News
Share196Tweet123
Andrew Powell

Andrew Powell

IJR, Contributor Writer

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th