STATEMENT: Aviano Victim Calls on Air Force to Remove Commander Following New Scandal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2013
Contact: Brian Purchia, , brian@protectourdefenders.com
*** STATEMENT ***
VICTIM IN AVIANO SCANDAL CALLS ON AIR FORCE TO REMOVE COMMANDER WHO OVERTURNED BOTH HER ATTACKER’S CONVICTION AND DECIDED AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BASE COMMANDER NOT TO COURT MARTIAL ANOTHER AIRMAN ACCUSED OF RAPE
Kimberly Hanks joins Protect Our Defenders in calling for the removal of Lieutenant General Craig Franklin after Stars and Stripes breaks story
Protect Our Defenders has worked with Kimberly Hanks and her family throughout the past year to create an independent and impartial military justice system. Her case woke the Senate and the public up to the need for fundamental reform to our broken military justice system. In March, Protect Our Defenders brought Kim to Washington, D.C. to meet with elected officials and bring attention to her case ahead of a Congressional hearing on the epidemic of military sexual assault. Earlier this year, it was announced that her attacker would be forced to retire and demoted in rank for a history of misconduct.
Kimberly Hanks released the following statement:
“Lt Gen Franklin should not only be removed from this recent sexual assault case — he needs to be dismissed from the United States Air Force. His reckless disregard for the safety of those who work and serve at Aviano is just one example of an extremely biased and broken military justice system — that must be fixed. The actions that Franklin took in my case, and in this most recent one is why in 2012 it is estimated that over 90% of victims never report their attacks. Who can blame them?
“When I first reported my assault at Aviano, I endured eight months of public humiliation, saw my name dragged through the mud, and many in the chain of command side with my attacker before, during and after his trial. They did their best to trash my character, the entire time pulling the ‘good ole boys’ routine and expecting to just get away with it.
“Why is the military continuing to support someone with a proven track record of inexperienced, biased and irresponsible decision making?
“We need fundamental reform. My case would not have moved forward without the perseverance of the prosecutors. Military prosecutors not commanders should decide to whether to move forward to trial. By removing Franklin from this case — it shows the American public that the Air Force knows it’s own justice system is flawed. Commanders do not need this duty and have shown time and time again they do not handle it well.”
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Stars and Stripes: Air Force removes Lt. Gen. Franklin from sexual assault case
http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-removes-lt-gen-franklin-from-sexual-assault-case-1.258268
Air Force Times: Wilkerson: Demotion, ouster politically motivated
Air Force Officer At Center Of Sexual Assault Controversy Demoted And Forced Into Retirement
Protect Our Defenders Point by Point Rebuttal of Gen Franklin’s 18 Reasons for Overturning Col Wilkerson’s Sexual Assault Conviction
Protect Our Defenders petition Calling on President Obama and Sec. Hagel to Remove Lt. Gen. Franklin and Lt. Col. Wilkerson: http://www.causes.com/aviano
An Open Letter to Secretary Hagel from Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish
Stars & Stripes: Wilkerson had affair that produced a child, Air Force confirms
Military Times: Sex assault clemency surprised prosecutor
http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130422/NEWS/304220007/Sex-assault-clemency-surprised-prosecutor
Stars & Stripes: Emails show general warned against reversing Wilkerson verdict
http://www.stripes.com/news/emails-show-general-warned-against-reversing-wilkerson-verdict-1.238114
Associated Press: Air Force Officer Transfer Draws Protest
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/air-forces-officer-transfer-draws-ariz-protest
About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders is a human rights organization. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, and re-victimized by the military adjudication system – a system that often blames the victim and fails to prosecute the perpetrator. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/
Protect Our Defenders partners with Attorney Susan Burke, Burke PLLC to advance lawsuits filed against the DoD and service academies for repeatedly ignoring rape, sexual assault and harassment, failing to prosecute perpetrators and retaliating against the victim.
