{
  "id": 1613337,
  "title": "Trump promised a sex-trafficking crackdown. His Justice Department hasn’t delivered.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/trump-promised-a-sex-trafficking-crackdown-his-justice-department",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T02:18:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/18/world/crime-legal/trump-sex-trafficking-justice-department/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump's administration has consistently claimed combating sex trafficking is a top priority. However, investigations into this issue have faced obstacles and prosecutions have decreased over the past six months. This situation can be attributed to staffing shortages, funding cuts, immigration enforcement measures, and a growing skepticism among victims towards the government, according to 25 former prosecutors, current law enforcement agents, and victims' advocates, as well as a review of federal court records.\n\nJacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor in New York who had led the prosecution of rapper and actor Sean \"Diddy\" Combs for alleged sex trafficking, expressed her dissatisfaction with the current administration's actions. Kelly stated, \"You can't say something is a priority and then not provide the resources to make that happen.\" This highlights the discrepancy between the administration's promises and the lack of progress in addressing sex trafficking allegations.",
  "summary": "Investigations have stalled and prosecutions have declined because of staffing shortages, funding cuts, immigration enforcement and growing distrust of the government.",
  "key_points": [
    "Trump administration claimed combating sex trafficking as top priority.",
    "Investigations into sex trafficking faced obstacles and prosecutions decreased.",
    "Shortages, funding cuts, and victim skepticism attributed to lack of progress."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}