Innovation Ohio · July 13, 2022

Desiree Tims Releases Statement After Ohio Republicans Call Child Rape Survivor a Liar

COLUMBUS — Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement following the arrest of a man accused of raping and impregnating a 10 year-old Ohio child, who was forced to leave the state to receive abortion care. Ohio Republicans have spent the past several days claiming on national television that the story was false. 

“Ohio’s MAGA Republicans passed a deadly 6-week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest. Then, when their actions forced a 10 year-old child to leave the state for abortion care, they called the child a liar.

“Today, they have no excuses left. It’s time for Mike DeWine, Dave Yost, and Ohio’s MAGA Republicans to own the truth: they passed a heartless law.

“One out of every five Ohio children does not know where their next meal is coming from. Over half a million Ohio children live in poverty. Instead of tackling issues like these, MAGA Republicans have been on national TV re-traumatizing a child rape survivor. We should all be ashamed of their actions.

“We will keep fighting every day to end these barbaric bans and restore Ohioans’ freedoms. Our families and children deserve so much better.”