III 

Calendar No. 375 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 377 

[Report No. 114–214] 

Directing the Senate Legal Counsel to bring a civil action to enforce a 

subpoena of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 29, 2016 

Mr. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs, reported the following original resolution; which was placed on 

the calendar 

RESOLUTION 

Directing the Senate Legal Counsel to bring a civil action 

to enforce a subpoena of the Permanent Subcommittee 

on Investigations. 

Whereas the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (in this preamble referred to as the ‘‘Subcommittee’’) is currently conducting a duly authorized investigation of human trafficking on the Internet pursuant 

to section 12(e)(3) of Senate Resolution 73, 114th Congress, agreed to February 12, 2015, which authorizes the 

Subcommittee to issue subpoenas for the production of 

documents; 


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2 

•SRES 377 PCS 

Whereas on October 1, 2015, the Subcommittee issued a duly 

authorized subpoena to Carl Ferrer, Chief Executive Officer of Backpage.com, LLC, directing him to produce certain documents to the Subcommittee by 10:00 a.m. on 

October 23, 2015; 

Whereas on October 23, 2015, counsel for Mr. Ferrer and 

Backpage.com, LLC submitted to the Subcommittee legal 

objections to the compelled production of documents 

under the subpoena issued by the Subcommittee and declined to comply with the subpoena; 

Whereas, having considered the legal objections that had been 

submitted by counsel for Mr. Ferrer and Backpage.com, 

LLC, on November 3, 2015, the Subcommittee overruled 

those objections in their entirety and ordered and directed that Mr. Ferrer comply with the subpoena issued 

by the Subcommittee by 10:00 a.m. on November 12, 

2015; 

Whereas Mr. Ferrer has refused to comply with the subpoena 

issued by the Subcommittee as ordered and directed by 

the Subcommittee; and 

Whereas under sections 703(b) and 705 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (2 U.S.C. 288b(b) and 288d), the 

Senate Legal Counsel shall bring a civil action under section 1365 of title 28, United States Code, to enforce a 

subpoena of a Senate subcommittee when directed to do 

so by the adoption of a resolution by the Senate: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate Legal Counsel shall bring 

2 a civil action in the name of the Senate Permanent Sub3 committee on Investigations to enforce the subpoena 

4 issued by the Subcommittee to Carl Ferrer, Chief ExecuVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Feb 29, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR377.PCS SR377

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•SRES 377 PCS 

1 tive Officer of Backpage.com, LLC, and that the Senate 

2 Legal Counsel shall conduct all related civil contempt pro3 ceedings. 


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Calendar No. 375 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 377 

[Report No. 114–214] 

RESOLUTION 

Directing the Senate Legal Counsel to bring a civil 

Subcommittee on Investigations. action to enforce a subpoena of the Permanent 

FEBRUARY 29, 2016 

Placed on the calendar 


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