Alaska Rep. David Eastman under fire for child abuse fatality comments

An Alaska state legislator is under fire for suggesting that the deaths of abused children could potentially present a “cost savings” opportunity.

Rep. David Eastman (R-Wasilla) faced criticism from both sides of the aisle for his comments during a Monday afternoon meeting of the House Judiciary Committee, which featured a presentation from experts on adverse childhood experiences.

In response to a statistic that listed the lifetime cost of fatal child abuse at $1.5 million per victim, Eastman referred to a counterargument that the death of abused children is “actually a benefit to society.”

“It can be argued, periodically, that [fatal child abuse is] actually a cost savings because that child is not going to need any of those government services that they might otherwise be entitled to receive and need based on growing up in this type of environment,” he said.

Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children’s Trust (ACT), who was presenting at the meeting, said he “was not even sure how to answer” Eastman’s query, and emphasized that the loss of a child was “hugely tragic” for both the family and the community.

Eastman’s comments immediately drew criticism from his fellow committee members, with Rep. Cliff Groh (D-Anchorage), who previously prosecuted child abuse cases, saying he was “disturbed” by the question.

Rep. Andrew Gray (D-Anchorage) also became emotional when recounting his experience adopting a child through foster care who had several adverse childhood experiences.

Though he acknowledged that Eastman may not have intended to cause offense, Gray said his callous remark implied that his child was better off dead.

”I would just say for me personally, my child is the greatest joy I’ve ever had,” he said.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Sarah Vance (R-Homer) thanked Gray for sharing his story, but neither she nor Eastman apologized. 

In a statement to the Anchorage Daily News (ADN), she later said Eastman should have asked his question about cost benefits “with a little bit more sensitivity.”

The outlet noted that Eastman, a hardline conservative known for his uncompromising stances, was denied entry to the Republican House majority caucus and thus was not entitled to committee membership.

“He is [on the Judiciary Committee] at my invitation,” Vance said.

“But he’s there on his own accord and only represents himself.”

Both Vance and Eastman are anti-abortion, and Vance guessed that her colleague may have been trying to bring the pro-life argument into the conversation.

“One of the arguments for abortion has been that it’s better to terminate that child’s life before they become a burden to society,” she told the ADN.

Vance later told the outlet via text message that “it would be unfortunate to continue to highlight this one member rather than focus on the importance of the content provided to the committee and our desire to strengthen families.”

Vance’s interest in distracting from Eastman’s gaffe was shared by committee member Rep. Ben Carpenter (R-Nikiski), who wrote in an email to the ADN that “Rep. Eastman’s comments are his own.”

“[Eastman] is entitled to his opinion and I won’t be distracted by one member’s question and will instead remain focused on the important work of the legislature,” Carpenter commented.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, other House Republicans said they were “appalled” by Eastman’s questions, but refused to go on the record.

Commenters on social media were also quick to call Eastman out, with several writing scathing critiques of his comments under the video of the meeting that was shared on his official Facebook page.

“Something is seriously wrong with any human who sees a positive in abused children dying at the hands of their abuser,” one viewer wrote, while another said he clearly had “no empathy for other humans.”

Speaking to The Post on Wednesday, Storrs declined to comment on the “intent” of Eastman’s question.

“I think we can all agree that children are our most valuable resource here in Alaska,” he said.

“Children…are not a number, they are greater than a number,” he continued, noting that it was unfortunate that coverage of the presentation focused on Eastman’s remarks and not the otherwise productive conversation.

“The real answer is…if we invest early, we ensure that children and their families gain the knowledge…to be assets to our collective success. I think Eastman and any legislator would agree with this,” Storrs said.

When reached by text by the outlet, Eastman himself said that, while he was “pleased” with ACT’s advocacy, “ a child’s value comes not from future productivity, but from the fact that every child is made in the image of God.” 

This is hardly Eastman’s first brush with controversy. Shortly after he defeated an incumbent GOP candidate in 2016, he was censured for claiming that rural women were trying to get pregnant to secure “a free trip to the city” for an abortion.

He also faced a December 2022 civil suit that tried to oust him due to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and membership in the far-right Oath Keepers group. 

“If somebody comes along and wants to destroy the constitutional structure of Alaska, they should not be elected to the Legislature,” nonagenarian Vic Fischer, the last surviving delegate of Alaska’s 1950s constitutional convention, told Politico of the weeklong trial, which ultimately failed to remove Eastman from office.

Even before the judge ruled in his favor, Eastman himself showed no remorse on the stand.

“Any organization that will assist us in supporting and defending the Constitution is an asset to this country,” he said of the Oath Keepers, whose leader was convicted of seditious conspiracy last fall for his own role in the Jan. 6 plot.

Eastman, Storrs and Vance did not immediately reply to The Post’s requests for comment.