Podcast Summary: "Defending the Victims of Child Sex Abuse — Trey's Law Going National"

Verdict with Ted Cruz | March 4, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson
Guest Host: Senator Ted Cruz
Special Guest: Elizabeth Phillips (sister of Trey Carlock, advocate)
Notable Audio: Remarks from survivor Jaden Harris

Episode Overview

This powerful episode spotlights the national push for "Trey's Law," bipartisan federal legislation introduced by Senator Ted Cruz aimed at preventing the silencing of child sex abuse victims through Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). The discussion is rooted in the tragic story of Trey Carlock, a survivor of abuse at a faith-based summer camp, who later died by suicide after years of being bound by a legal gag order. Trey’s sister, Elizabeth Phillips, joins to share her family’s story and her advocacy work, while survivor Jaden Harris’s moving statement from the Senate press conference is also featured. The episode focuses on how institutional cover-ups are perpetuated, the real-life impacts of NDAs on victims, the mechanics and urgency of Trey's Law, and concrete actions listeners can take.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Epidemic of Child Sexual Abuse in the U.S.

• Start: [03:44]
• Senator Cruz opens by detailing the magnitude of the problem:
  • "A child in America is sexually abused every nine minutes... One in four girls, one in six boys in America will be sexually abused before they turn 18." ([06:29], Cruz)
  • Emphasizes repeated use of NDAs to silence victims during civil litigation.

Background and Purpose of Trey's Law

• Trey Carlock’s Story: [06:29] – [17:11]

  • Trey was abused at Kanakuk, a Missouri Christian summer camp, by a camp director (Pete Newman). Abuse lasted over a decade, with 57 known victims at the time of Newman's sentencing (now believed higher).
  • Trey's abuser is serving three life sentences, but in civil court, Trey was persuaded to sign an NDA. Bound by this, Trey was unable to speak openly about his abuse, even in therapeutic settings. He died by suicide at age 28.
  • Trey's Law (already passed in Texas, Missouri, and other states) is now being introduced federally to render NDAs unenforceable for child sex abuse cases.

• Elizabeth Phillips’s Advocacy:

  • Founded factsaboutkanakuk.com to reveal persistent institutional cover-ups at Kanakuk and "do Kanakuk's job for them." ([15:04], Phillips)
  • Database now documents over 90 alleged abusers linked to Kanakuk; only a handful have ever been held accountable.

The Mechanics Behind NDAs and Legal Pressure on Victims

• NDAs as Tools of Silencing: [20:36] – [28:33]

  • NDAs are forced on victims—often children or young adults—by both abusers and, sometimes, their own legal representation.
  • "Freedom of speech is a right as an American citizen... NDAs were meant to protect intellectual property... They’ve since been misused to silence victims..." ([22:19], Phillips)
  • Lawyers working on contingency are incentivized to settle quickly, accepting NDAs that permanently silence their clients in exchange for a payout.

• Statute of Limitations Issues: [13:01], [23:40]

  • Many abuse survivors are locked out of civil courts due to extremely short deadlines for filing lawsuits—sometimes as young as 23 or 26.
  • Institutional cover-ups intentionally prolong victim silence until legal deadlines expire.

Empowering Survivor Voices & The Importance of Storytelling

• Jaden Harris Statement: [34:38] – [38:17]

  • A 19-year-old Missouri survivor who, thanks to Trey's Law, refused an NDA and named her abuser publicly for the first time.
    • "What I wasn't prepared for was the intimidation not only for my abuser but for my own lawyer to sign a non-disclosure agreement... Imagine being told you can never tell your own truth." ([34:38], Jaden Harris)
    • "No agreement could take away my right to speak about my own experience... That legal right changed everything." ([36:42], Harris)
    • Named her abuser as "Reza," an entertainer who remains around children.
    • Her story illustrates the difference state-level protections can make: “A survivor's freedom of speech should not depend on geography.” ([37:32], Harris)

• Discussion on Shame and Delayed Disclosure: [41:46] – [44:22]

  • Cruz and Phillips discuss why so few victims come forward quickly—shame, grooming, and institutional obstacles are powerful deterrents.
  • Only about 1 in 7 victims ever disclose abuse, with men frequently not coming forward until much later in life. ([43:38], Phillips)

Legislative Action and Bipartisan Support

• Cosponsors and Legislative History: [30:09], [45:21]

  • Federal bill cosponsored by Senators Gillibrand (D-NY), Britt (R-AL), Schmidt (R-MO), Klobuchar (D-MN), Welch (D-VT), and Shaheen (D-NH).
  • Draws on lessons learned from previous bipartisan efforts to tackle sexual abuse in the military.
  • Cruz expresses confidence in passing Trey's Law nationally: “This is one I’m confident will be faster…I don’t think this will take a decade to make happen.” ([33:17], Cruz)

• Key Provisions in Trey's Law: [27:38]

  • NDAs cannot be used to silence child sexual abuse victims; such clauses are illegal and unenforceable in settlements.
  • Victims can, if they choose, still insist on confidentiality for their own protection.
  • “We will get this passed.” ([27:38], Cruz)

Calls to Action for Listeners

• Practical Steps: [52:09] – [55:10]
  • Share the episode, spread awareness.
  • Contact your Senator and House member to urge them to support Trey's Law.
    • “Phone calls matter…If there’s a surge on a topic, it makes a difference and it focuses the mind.” ([53:08], Cruz)
  • Survivor and resource sites:
    • factsaboutkanakuk.com — Whistleblower site and names database
    • treyslaw.org — Legislation info, survivor community
    • nmvalliance.org — No More Victims Alliance, advocacy and community

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A child in America is sexually abused every nine minutes... One in four girls, one in six boys in America will be sexually abused before they turn 18.”
  — Senator Ted Cruz ([06:29])

• “It's one thing to lose a sibling in a car accident... but it is particularly gut wrenching to lose a family member who was the victim of abuse and was haunted by that.”
  — Cruz ([08:50])

• “Until Trey's Law went into effect in Texas... I never saw what he signed. He wouldn’t talk about it. He was so terrified… Even in therapeutic settings, even trying to get sober in AA… He was worried Kanakuk would come after him...”
  — Elizabeth Phillips ([15:04])

• “There are over 90 perpetrators with allegations against them affiliated with Kanakuk and its associated ministries... The rest are just still out there living their lives. A lot of them have never been held accountable.”
  — Elizabeth Phillips ([15:51])

• “There is no reason a child lacks the emotional maturity to make a decision to bind themselves by an NDA. Trey's Law is going to say, we're not going to allow children to be taken advantage of first when they're abused, and then a second time when they are pressured into signing an NDA.”
  — Senator Ted Cruz ([54:17])

• “If you’ve been a victim, it’s not your fault. And that’s one of the lies these abusers try to convince children… That is a total and complete lie.”
  — Senator Ted Cruz ([44:22])

• “The core of our mission here is protecting children and their voices so that when they do come forward, survivors are heard, believed, and we can respond with action to hold the bad actors accountable.”
  — Elizabeth Phillips ([09:53])

• “What almost happened to me—signing away my voice—should never be an option in this country.”
  — Jaden Harris ([36:38])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:44 — Introduction of Trey's Law and scale of child sexual abuse
• 06:29 — Trey Carlock’s story and the NDA’s impact
• 09:53 — Elizabeth Phillips on systemic issues and advocacy origins
• 15:04 — Institutional cover-up at Kanakuk, use of NDAs, and ongoing threats
• 20:36 — Pressures from abusers, institutions, and victims’ own attorneys
• 23:40 — Statute of limitations as a barrier for justice
• 27:38 — How Trey's Law changes incentives and protects survivors’ speech
• 34:38 — Jaden Harris’s moving survivor testimony (audio)
• 41:46 — Discussion on shame, delayed disclosure, impact for male victims
• 52:09 — How listeners can get involved; key resources and actions

Additional Resources Mentioned

• factsaboutkanakuk.com — Whistleblower reporting and abuser database
• treyslaw.org — Federal and state legislative updates, survivor tools
• nmvalliance.org — National advocacy and alliance

Tone

The tone is urgent, empathetic, bipartisan, and solution-oriented, with a focus on the empowerment of survivors’ voices and practical mechanisms for reform. All participants repeatedly emphasize the real human toll of institutional silence and the collective responsibility to advocate for change.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode

This episode is essential listening for anyone concerned about child safety, survivor rights, or institutional accountability. It moves beyond statistics to give voice to survivors and their families, demystifies the mechanisms by which institutions maintain secrecy, and offers practical paths for listeners to advocate at both personal and legislative levels. The episode’s clarity, emotional candor, and bipartisan drive make it especially impactful.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit childhelphotline.org or call 1-800-4-A-CHILD.

For advocacy, reporting, or to get connected to survivor communities, see the websites above.