Letter to the Editor: Alani Bankhead

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MSU Exponent, its editorial staff, advisers, or Montana State University.

Author: Alani Bankhead, U.S. Senate Candidate (MT)

The Cornell 7 could’ve been avoided, if we had different leaders at every level of our community. 

I’m a cyber child sex crimes expert who teaches law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges around the world how to better protect people from sexual exploitation. I’ve hunted terrorists and spies and was even a senior bodyguard to a top Pentagon official. I’m also running for U.S. Senate. 

In almost 20 years of running sex crimes cases at the state and federal level, the biggest impediment I experienced wasn’t the pedophiles or traffickers. It was complacent and complicit government officials and community members. I had an Assistant U.S. Attorney argue that the guy who tried to buy sex with three kids wasn’t a threat to the community and a judge once told me child sex abuse material was a “victimless crime.” 

The current economy we’re in means survival sex exploitation skyrockets. Parents who can’t afford rent are exploited by a pedophilic landlord who offers to waive rent for certain … favors. Unhoused youth desperate to find their next meal or bed receive food or lodging in exchange for sexual favors. If we had politicians who fought for cheaper healthcare, lower housing costs and affordable gas — trafficking would decrease. 

I have been deeply alarmed by the lack of safeguards around Flock-style cameras, and it’s been years since I first raised alarms about how AI integration in justice system matters would result in your cFuonstitutional right to privacy being violated. 

And make no mistake: AI data centers are THE reason why millions of dark money dollars are being spent on this U.S. Senate race. Because billionaires are trying to get access to our public lands and water to put their AI data centers on them. 

When I was behind closed doors on Capitol Hill, I was blown away at the level of arrogance, ego and lack of service I witnessed. I realized the difference between them and us is they think they deserve to be in power and people like us don’t. 

I never saw myself running for office, but I didn’t feel I had much of a choice. I have always stood between the bully and the bullied, and our elected leaders on both sides of the aisle are some of the biggest bullies out there. So here I am doing my part and I’m humbly asking you to do your part too. 

Today’s politics is a battle of ideologies with the victims being us. The power and money grabs are focused on making the Epstein class richer by taking from our pockets. Bottom line: this election is not about Republicans vs Democrats, it’s about the 1 percent vs everyone else. 

If you’re reading this thinking, “I don’t do politics” well politics does you. If you’re frustrated with the price of housing, climate change, the Cornell 7 and AI data centers, it’s because WE have allowed our community to be led by people who don’t release the Epstein files, poison our environment, let private equity buy up homes and hand over our public lands to be a playground for the rich. 

I’m going to be very candid and say, if you do not vote, then you need to accept responsibility for allowing our current situation to continue. We all have a responsibility to create the community we want. As cheesy as it is to hear “one vote does matter,” it absolutely does. Why do you think billionaires are spending millions trying to buy it? Your vote is the most valuable element of our country and democracy, and the tech bros allowing rape culture, AI data centers, Flock cameras and unrestricted polluting of the earth to make a buck know it. 

And if you feel like the problem is too big to handle alone, you’re right. But the beauty of that statement is that it reflects your humility, leadership and understanding of the situation. I’ve arrested hundreds of sex abusers all over the world and we always did it with less than five people just like you and me. We weren’t enough on our own, but together we created justice that continues reverberating today. I fought to protect people from the Cornell 7, because I wanted you to have a future free from abuse. Now I’m humbly asking you to take your power back. Put the Cornell 7, the tech billionaires and the Epstein class in their place and vote for the candidates who aren’t beholden to dark money and will hold those who act with impunity accountable.