Kamala Harris in The Guardian (U.K.)

On Crime: Charge online brothels with money laundering, if not pimping

Harris had charged Backpage executives with 13 counts of pimping and conspiracy to commit pimping. Harris said the new charges were based on new evidence. A judge threw out pimping charges against the men on 9 December, citing federal free-speech laws.

In the latest case, Harris claims Backpage illegally funneled money through multiple companies to get around banks that refused to process transactions. She also alleged that the company used photos of women from Backpage on other sites without their permission, to increase revenue, and knowingly profited from the proceeds of prostitution.

"By creating an online brothel--a hotbed of illicit & exploitative activity--[Backpage.com] preyed on vulnerable victims, including children, and profited from their exploitation," Harris said.