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NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Actor and former NFL player Terry Crews is pushing for legislation in every state that will give sexual assault survivors more rights. In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Crews described in detail how he says a powerful Hollywood agent sexually assaulted him.
"In 2016, while at a party with my wife, I was sexually assaulted by a successful Hollywood agent," Crews told members of the Senate panel. "The assault lasted only minutes but what he was effectively telling me while he held my genitals in his hand was that he held the power—that he was in control."
Crews and rape survivor Amanda Nguyen, the founder of the nonprofit Rise, want Washington lawmakers to support legislation, such as the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights, in all 50 states.
"I was told over and over that this was not abuse—that this was just a joke, that this was just horseplay," Crews testified.
Crews, who stars in the TV series "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," is hoping his star power will generate more attention to this issue and the #MeToo movement.
"As I watched women and colleagues in my industry come forward to share their 'MeToo' stories, this shame washed over me again and again," he said, "and I knew I had to act."
Crews told lawmakers that he was afraid that fighting back in that moment would have ruined his Hollywood career.
"You're a big, powerful man—why didn't you?" Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked.
"Senator, as a black man in America," Crews said, pausing to sigh and collect himself.
"Say it as it is," Feinstein replied. "I think it's important."
"You only have a few shots at success," Crews continued. "You only have a few chances to make yourself a viable member of the community."
Crews is suing the agency and the man he said assaulted him. He filed a police report, but the LAPD said the statute of limitations had run out.
Fox 5 reached out to the agency to get a response to his testimony but have yet to hear back.