[AUDIO] NPR: Military Sexual Assault Bill Would Reassign Authority
NPR reports:
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is fighting for her bill to curb sexual assaults in the military. Her measure would give independent military prosecutors, rather than commanders, the power to decide which cases should be tried in military court.
Military leaders fiercely oppose moving that authority outside the chain of command, arguing that commanders are responsible for the health and welfare of their soldiers. Removing their authority would undermine their ability to lead, they say.
Gillibrand says commanders are not experts on serious assaults and are unable to prevent retaliation against victims who report crimes.
“Frankly, they’ve failed up until now to keep the command climate free of assault, rape and retaliation,” she says.
