Dept. of Justice News Briefs

St. Croix Times Staff

Enforcement of AI Intelligence Regulations 

V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea joined in on a bipartisan letter to Congress opposing a budget amendment prohibiting States from enforcing Artificial Intelligence regulations. 

AG Rhea along with 39 other State Attorneys General voiced their opposition to a sweeping and dangerous U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee amendment to the budget reconciliation bill that imposes a 10-year prohibition on States from enforcing any State law or regulation addressing artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making systems.

“As technology evolves, it is crucial that States maintain the ability to protect their citizens from the risks of artificial intelligence. Federal inaction shouldn’t leave consumers unprotected - our laws are essential to ensuring safety and fairness in a rapidly changing landscape,” said Attorney General Rhea.

AI promises to revolutionize America’s economy, spur achievement and innovation, and improve lives across the country. However, the rise of such technology presents real, immediate dangers ranging from explicit material and election interference to deception, exploitation, and harassment against consumers. In the absence of federal leadership, state legislatures and attorneys general have continued to be at the forefront of ensuring AI is not abused and that consumers are protected. As the letter to Congress emphasizes, State laws and regulations “have been developed over the years through careful consideration and extensive stakeholder input from consumers, industry and advocates. And in the years ahead, additional matters - many unforeseeable today given the rapidly evolving nature of this technology - are likely to arise.”

If enacted, the amendment would strip away essential state protections without replacing them with a viable federal regulatory framework and silence State leaders who are best positioned to respond…and will leave AI entirely unregulated at any level and Americans completely exposed to its known harms and evolving real-world risks.

Cooperation to End Human Trafficking

AG Rhea joined a bipartisan coalition of 41 State and Territory Attorneys General in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy to require better cooperation from the next operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 

The current operator of the Hotline, Polaris, has apparently been in violation of their agreement on the multi-million dollar contract by failing to forward third-party tips about adult victims to State law enforcement, except in limited circumstances. Additionally, States have often discovered a delay of even several months before the Hotline shared those tips with States.    

This practice is not acceptable and the Attorneys General are asking Congress to correct the situation. 

“Timely tips from trusted sources are essential for law enforcement to intervene in human trafficking cases, and reach victims in need,” said AG Rhea. “When organizations like Polaris withhold critical data, it undermines the impact of the National Hotline. As we approach the contract’s renewal, we call on the Department of Health and Human Services to help restore the Hotline’s full potential - because every missed report is a missed chance to save a life.”

HHS is currently seeking applicants for a new award of this funding. That notice of funding opportunity does require the Hotline operator to develop a plan for working with law enforcement.

Legal Services Corp Funding   

AG Rhea joined by a bipartisan group of 39 other Attorneys General to urge Congress to keep in place critical funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The group called on Congress to continue LSC’s mission of providing legal assistance to people in rural communities, veterans and military families, domestic violence survivors, older adults victimized by scams and frauds, and any others who might struggle to afford an attorney in civil legal matters. 

“Legal Services Corporation is often the only lifeline for many facing complex legal challenges without the means to hire a lawyer,” said AG Rhea. “From protecting seniors from fraud to helping veterans secure the benefits they’ve earned, LSC ensures equal justice under the law. Congress must continue to invest in this indispensable service.”

LSC operates a network of 130 independent legal aid organizations in over 900 offices in 50 States, DC, and U.S. Territories. Legal Services of the Virgin Islands (LSVI), a nonprofit organization with offices in St. Croix and St. Thomas, is partially funded locally by LSC. LSVI provides civil legal assistance to low-income and underserved individuals across the USVI. Since 1969, LSVI has been committed to making equal justice a reality for all who need it.

Network of Trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners 

The Virgin Islands DOJ has partnered with Emory University under the Special Assistance Funding Program (SAFE) grant to establish a network of trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in the USVI. This initiative will enable nurses to conduct forensic medical exams in sexual assault cases and support the development of a coordinated community Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

Over the past year, 17 nurses from the USVI have completed training in administering rape kits through the SAFE Program Grant in collaboration with Emory University.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in how we support survivors of sexual violence in the Virgin Islands,” said AG Rhea. “By equipping our nurses with specialized forensic training and building a comprehensive response team, we are strengthening our commitment to justice, compassion, and healing for victims.”