Alaska lawmaker's (R) chief of staff arrested on sex trafficking and child exploitation charges [View all]

A legislator’s chief of staff was arrested in Juneau on Friday on federal charges of sex trafficking and child exploitation, enticement and coercion and creating child sexual abuse material.

Craig Scott Valdez, 36, was chief of staff to Sutton Republican Sen. George Rauscher since November, and worked in Rauscher’s office since 2021, according to a government staffing website Legistorm. Rauscher was not immediately available for comment Friday.

A spokesperson for the Senate Minority Caucus, of which Rasucher is a member, said Friday afternoon that Valdez had been terminated from his employment with the Legislature, effective immediately.

Valdez also served as the chair of the Anchorage Young Republicans since January 2025, according to the organization’s social media posts. A spokesperson for the Alaska Republican Party said in a statement Friday said the charges were “nothing short of horrifying” and said Valdez has been removed from any and all positions within the Alaska Republican Party and Young Republicans.



https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/alaska-lawmakers-chief-of-staff-arrested-on-sex-trafficking-and-child-exploitation-charges/