FSC Calls on Attorney General to Drop Charges Against Rentboy Founder

FSC Calls on Attorney General to Drop Charges Against Rentboy Founder

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — The Free Speech Coalition issued a statement today over the Justice Department’s prosecution of Rentboy founder Jeffrey Hurant.

In February, Hurant pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him alone with promoting prostitution and money laundering. A federal grand jury indicted Hurant on two counts of using his parent company Easy Rent Systems as a front to promote prostitution and to launder money.

Hurant, who was released on a $350,000 bond after his August arrest, has defended his online hookup operation as perfectly legal. Before authorities shut the website and offices down, Rentboy.com garnered about 500,000 unique visitors each day, according to the indictment.

The FSC issued the following statement:

Last month, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York finally dismissed charges against six employees of the adult advertising directory Rentboy. Unfortunately, charges against Jeffrey Hurant, who owned and ran the site for nearly 20 years, remain.

The charges are egregious and steeped in the outdated biases about gay sex and sex work. The Free Speech Coalition joins the five LGBT members of New York’s City Council in calling on Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Jeh Johnson, to drop the charges against Hurant, as it did against Rentboy’s six employees.

Hurant is charged with “promoting prostitution” and “money laundering.” Those of us who have worked in the adult industry for any significant length of time are familiar with these loaded phrases, and how loosely law enforcement interprets them. Throughout our history, they have been used to chill speech, to push workers into the shadows, and to remind all of us — adult filmmakers, performers, dancers, retailers, escorts and activists — that the government may throw us in jail and seize our assets (as they did with Hurant) on the flimsiest of pretexts, merely by invoking these judicial maledictions.

Hurant’s indictment reads like pulp fiction — breathless descriptions of acts and equipment, and hints of even seamier allegations without any corresponding charges. Adult filmmakers are familiar with these tactics as well, not only because we were forced to fight charges of pandering ourselves in the 1970s, but because they are still used today, by anti-porn activists like Michael Weinstein and Gail Dines, in their attempts to strip away our right to sexual speech.

Could Hurant’s true offense have been that he provided a clean, safe, and legal way for escorts and masseurs to connect with clients? That he ran an upstanding business, built a loyal community empowering its members and didn’t hide? That he spoke up for the rights of his advertisers, and supported his community? Those are the actions that really inflame the moralists, because they conflict with their long-held ideological view of sex work as tawdry, disgraceful and dangerous.

When Hurant was arrested, he was stripped of the ability to defend himself in Kafkaesque fashion. His business was closed, his bank accounts frozen and seized, all tools meant to deny him due process. We ask that our members regard Hurant’s fight as their own, and support him with whatever moral, financial or legal help they can. Donations to the Rentboy Legal Defense Team are much needed, and can be made at RentboyFund.com.

An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

MojoHost Reaffirms Commitment to Adult Industry Amid Project 2025 Implications

In the wake of Tuesday's election and amid concerns about the possible ramifications for the adult industry, MojoHost President Brad Mitchell has releases a statement addressing Project 2025 and the future of the industy.

Adult Web Hosting Service 'Midnight-Host' Launches

Midnight-Host, a new web hosting service designed specifically for adult websites, has launched.

ASN Lifestyle Magazine Joins Pineapple Support as Media Sponsor

ASN Lifestyle Magazine has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support, partnering with the organization as a media sponsor.

Adult Industry Reacts to Trump Victory

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the office he lost four years ago.

Fetisfy Online Fetish Marketplace Launches

Fetisfy.com, an online marketplace for users to sell fetish items, has launched.

Pineapple Support Launches 'Spill the Tea, Colombia' Community Support Event Series

Pineapple Support has launched "Spill the Tea, Colombia," a monthly, in-person community support event for adult industry professionals.

Streamster Launches 'Tip2Peep' Camera-Switching Feature

Live-streaming software provider Streamster has launched Tip2Peep, a new feature that allows viewers to switch between multiple webcam viewing angles by tipping the creator.

Tyler Wu Guests on Chaturbate's 'Sex Tales' Podcast

Tyler Wu is the latest guest on Chaturbate’s “Sex Tales” podcast, hosted by Melissa Stratton and Vanniall on the company’s “Camming Life” YouTube channel.

Fleshy to Launch Interactive Cam Site 'Eromote'

Male pleasure brand Fleshy has announced that it will launch an interactive, bidirectional cam site next month called Eromote.

XBIZ LA Show Introduces New 'Crib Crawl' Feature

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of its flagship conference, the XBIZ Show, will debut a brand-new feature: Crib Crawl, offering attendees the chance to meet and greet representatives from leading brands and organizations in dedicated suites at the host venue.

Show More