Celebvocate: Demi Moore on Capitol Hill crusading against child sex trafficking

Demi Moore at the start of Tuesday's briefing on the Hill. (Evan Vucci/AP)

An occasional look at the show-biz luminaries-with-causes attempting to shed light in Washington. Tuesday's visitor: Demi Moore.

Occasion: A briefing on child sex trafficking in the U.S., by the Rebecca Project and the Demi & Ashton Foundation.

Site: A packed meeting room at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

What she wants: Tougher prosecution for johns and pimps, and more leniency and support for youngsters coerced into prostitution. "I think many Americans are more willing to accept that girls are being trafficked in Cambodia and can't imagine it's happening right here."

How she looked: Glam, but dialed-back-for-D.C. -- dark sheath, wide leather belt, loose hair, reading glasses.

Strategy: Bypassing the celeb-glutted White House Correspondents' Association dinner, Moore drew a solo media spotlight -- which she deftly deflected to a panel of young victims sharing compelling stories of beatings, preteen arrests, childhoods lost.

Backup: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux as moderator; panel of experts.

Light moment: Moore's spiel was interrupted by the buzzers signaling a House vote. "Do I need to answer that?" she asked. "I feel like I need to answer that."