WV Legislature approves new legislation to remove exemptions for sexual assault for married couples.
Even if the couple is legally separated, an individual accused of this kind of sexual abuse couldn’t be charged.
Until 1976, a married person couldn't be charged with penetratively raping their spouse. That law was changed at the urging of the former Republican Sen. Judith Herndon, who was the only woman in the Legislature at the time.
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Weld honored Herndon on the floor Monday before the bill passed 22-9, with three senators absent or not voting.
"This is carrying on what I believe to be an unfinished job that she wasn’t able to get done before she unfortunately passed away in 1980," Weld said of the bill.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/west-virginia-senate-passes-bill-remove-marital-exemption-sexual-abuse