Obscenity Prosecution Task Force

The Obscenity Prosecution Task Force (OPTF) was an organization created in 2005 by the United States Department of Justice. The OPTF's job was to investigate and prosecute producers and distributors of hardcore pornography that meets the legal tests for obscenity, as defined by the Supreme Court of the United States.[1][2] The group was led by U.S. Attorney Brent Ward.[3]

The task force was formed during the Presidency of George W. Bush to investigate hardcore pornography at the urging of social conservative groups.[4][5] Notable cases were brought against Joseph R. Francis' Mantra Films, Inc. (Girls Gone Wild), as well as producers Ira Isaacs and Max Hardcore.[6]

Eric Holder, Barack Obama's appointee for United States Attorney General, shut down the task force in spring 2011, folding it into the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Staff report (November 21, 2005). An All-Out Assault On Sexual Content. BusinessWeek"
  2. ↑ Abramson, Larry (September 27, 2005). Federal Government Renews Effort to Curb Porn. Morning Edition, National Public Radio
  3. ↑ Palazzolo, Joe (July 31, 2009), "Has the New Administration Gone Soft on Porn?", Main Justice
  4. ↑ Glover, Scott (June 9, 2008). Upcoming trial will see hours of hard-core fetish pornography. Los Angeles Times
  5. ↑ Kay, Julie (August 30, 2005). U.S. Attorney's Porn Fight Gets Bad Reviews. Daily Business Review
  6. ↑ Gross, Grant (July 25, 2007). U.S. Man Faces Online Porn Charges. PC World
  7. ↑ Eric Holder accused of neglecting porn fight. Politico (April 16, 2011), accessed June 6, 2011

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