Steubenville city officials held a press conference for the media Saturday to discuss the facts of the teen rape investigation, the city's jurisdiction and the Ohio law transparency of local government.

City Manager Cathy Davison along with Police Chief Bill McCafferty, Councilwoman Angela Suggs, of the Fourth Ward, and A.L.I.V.E. Shelter representative Jodi Scheetz, spoke to local and national media and debuted a new website, Steubenvillefacts.org, which is set up to establish the facts of the case and explain the city's role in the investigation.

"Women need to be safe against sexual assault that lawbreakers will be punished to the full extent of the law," said Davison. "The goal of the site is to provide timely updates of the facts of the case and to provide only accurate information."

Officials explained to local and national media that the city is separate from the school district and county sheriff's office, and city leaders deny any cover up.

"Many outsiders think that Big Red football runs the town. Just as some facts, many of the Steubenville Police Department officers graduated from somewhere else," said Davison.

McCafferty addressed the video that surfaced gained national attention this week in relation to the case.
"Early in the case during the first week after we were made aware of this incident, we obtained this video. We have witnesses come forward very quickly, and that's why we were able to make the two arrests of the juveniles that are going to go to trial," said McCafferty. "There's a lot accusations out there. Bring me something that we can investigate and prove that this happened."

Questions from media outlets included how protected is the new site from a potential hack, and also if there is a plan moving forward about under-age drinking and domestic assault

"We have and we're utilizing all of our technology resources available and also utilizing our resources through the state and federal government," said Davison. "The individuals that are involved in this case, while the court will decide their guilt or innocence, there's an education process and we will be working within our community to have that conversation."

McCafferty said his department is limited in its resources, and officers are investigating incidents of innocent residents being harassed. Suggs said the city is open and transparent about the facts of the case.