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Former Illinois Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger criticized the "groomer hypocrisy" from Republicans amid news South Dakota Senate candidate Joel Koskan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his adopted daughter, now 20, from the time she was 12.
The news coincides with Missouri state Republican Senator Mike Moon reaffirming his support for the right to marry a 12-year-old girl.
Kinzinger's remark was a jab at members of the GOP who have falsely alleged over the last year that members of the LGBTQ+ community have been "grooming" children and pushed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in many conservative states based on these lies.
In response to a news report that Koskan had pled guilty to two counts of felony incest, Kinzinger wrote:
"These have all been Republicans lately. Its like those casting the fake stones of 'groomer' are some of the groomers."
You can see Kinzinger's post below.
\u201cThese have all been Republicans lately. Its like those casting the fake stones of \u201cgroomer\u201d are some of the groomers. \n\nJoel Koskan pleads guilty to 2 counts of felony incest https://t.co/TL4XHnWLGg\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
Koskan has been sentenced to 10 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary after pleading guilty to two counts of felony incest. Koskan, who ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2022, was arrested days before the election on charges relating to child abuse.
The 44-year-old faced felony child abuse charges for acts that allegedly took place between October 2014 and October 2016, according to court documents filed in November. Koskan was accused of exposing his victim—his now 20-year-old "adopted American Indian daughter," per The Dakota Free Press— to "sexual grooming behaviors."
As part of a new plea agreement, Koskan pleaded guilty to the two counts of felony incest and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for each count, court fees and provide restitution for the victim included in the original plea agreement that was rejected by a judge in March.
You can see a news report about Koskan's sentencing below.
Many joined Kinzinger in condemning Koskan's actions and criticizing the hypocrisy within the GOP.
\u201c@AdamKinzinger @KarstenStrauss It\u2019s always them. Always Projection. @AdamKinzinger \n\nWe must also show that it\u2019s always the right. And not Drag Queens.\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
\u201c@AdamKinzinger With all luck he'll meet his end in Prison.\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
\u201c@AdamKinzinger @lizzym4jam He wasn't sentenced harshly enough. But what really jumped out at me and made me a whole lot angrier was the FAMILY that tried to cover it all up, with absolutely no regard for the damage done to a CHILD for years. Imo, every family member involved should face prison time.\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
\u201c@AdamKinzinger I read daily about white cis men convicted of child sex crimes. Most are from power positions. Republican leaders, religious leaders and law enforcement. Do we have a problem?\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
\u201c@AdamKinzinger Projection is often at the root of these kinds of accusations made against others. There are no words to convey how deeply damaging he's been. And I wonder if there are others yet to come forward. Brava to this witness.\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
\u201c@AdamKinzinger @DanaSan68018976 Agree... so many REPUBLICAN PEDOPHILES... they preach FAMILY VALUES & are anything but...\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
\u201c@AdamKinzinger Every GOP accusation is a confession. 100% projection.\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1681301219
According to Assistant South Dakota Attorney General Brent Kempema, Koskan and his family pressured his daughter not to report the sexual abuse, causing her to be unable to do so when she first attempted to report it in 2016 due to the trauma it caused her.
In May 2022, she was able to find the courage to reach out to a friend whose father was a retired agent with the Department of Criminal Investigation to report further abuse.
During the investigation, she was pressured to prioritize her family's well-being over her own and to not cooperate with law enforcement. However, she eventually came to the realization the people she was trying to protect did not have her best interests at heart.
Her testimony was crucial to her father's conviction.