“Renewed push for assault loophole bill,” April 30, 2026

To the editor,

We write as members of the Ruth Mullen Riverdale Huddle, one of 27 organizations statewide which have worked tirelessly for eight years to pass A101 to remove the “voluntary intoxication exclusion” which prevents prosecution of many sexual assaults. The bill was carefully crafted by district attorneys and advocates for survivors using language found in statutes in 27 other states.

Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz is now being pressured to advance a watered-down version of the bill he sponsored, but the amended bill is so weak that it would leave most victims as unprotected as they are now. It would leave out victims who are severely disoriented, who can’t stand up straight, or who don’t know where they are, and who are assaulted while they are defenseless.

We’ve told Assembly member Dinowitz that A101-A will not protect survivors, and we’ve presented him with the facts of real cases that would not be covered by the amended bill.

Passing Assembly member Dinowitz’s original bill would be a win for survivors. Passing the weak amended bill would not: it would let predators continue to take advantage of the victim-blaming voluntary intoxication exclusion.

The amended bill would be a capitulation to defense attorneys who do not want any legislation that would hold predators accountable.

Jeff, please don’t pass a bill that won’t help survivors. Please stand strong, and help us pass a bill that will end a longstanding injustice in New York state.

AGNIESZKA CHEN, SUE ELLEN DODELL, LOIS HARR, HELEN KRIM, JULIE MARCUS, JUDITH MINKOFF-GREY AND DALE WOLFF

Ruth Mullen
Riverdale Huddle