Alaska lawmaker’s chief of staff arrested on sex trafficking and child exploitation charges

By: Corinne Smith

Outlets: Alaska Beacon

Published: February 21, 2026

Words: 506

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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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.

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