The US Senate has been investigating Backpage for years. Ferrer basically told the US Senate to shove their subpoena up their ass, he's not showing up to testify and he's not giving them the docs they are asking for.
This is what happens when you try to tell the US Senate to F off...
Harris is running for Senate and this is a political move. California is going to have a very very tough time making this stick. And he probably knows this is an arm twisting technique. He's got a some of the best lawyers working on this case.
The Sheriff who requested that VISA/Mastercard stop doing business with Backpage was sued and Backpage won. Even the USSC didnt take the Sheriff's appeal...they denied cert.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...506_story.html
And Backpage is estimated to make about $150 million a year...
Here's a 196 page US Senate report on Backpage if you have an hour of your life you dont need...
http://www.portman.senate.gov/public...f-736d083917c5