DNC Women’s Media Director Elizabeth Renda released the following statement on the Department of Education’s proposed rule change to Title IX, which would require students accused of sexual harassment be allowed to cross-examine their accusers:

“Under Betsy DeVos’s leadership, this administration continues to actively fight to strip protections for victims of the sexual assault epidemic that plagues college campuses across this country. DeVos’s latest proposed rule change to Title IX, which would require students accused of sexual assault to be allowed to cross-examine their accusers, is a devastating blow to women and victims of sexual misconduct.

“The proposed change shows just how low the administration is willing to sink to shield the accused and turn its back on victims. Allowing a student coming forward after experiencing sexual assault to be cross-examined by the individual who attacked them would be traumatizing, disturbing, and invasive, but the Trump administration couldn’t care less.

“This proposed rule exemplifies the misplaced priorities of DeVos and the Trump administration, who have consistently stood by abusers over victims instead of fighting to protect victims of sexual assault and hold their attackers accountable. Once again, this administration has turned its back on women and victims of sexual assault. Democrats will never stop fighting against the Trump administration’s shameful attacks on women, victims of sexual assault, and our country’s values.”