Gillibrand: ‘Disturbing evidence’ revealed in AP report on U.S. military sexual assaults
The Citizen reports:
Gillibrand has introduced legislation, the Military Justice Improvement Act, that would shift the decision to prosecute sexual assaults to professional military prosecutors. Fifty-three senators support Gillibrand’s bill, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
Last week, Gillibrand said the Military Justice Improvement Act could come to the Senate floor for a vote as early as this week.
“America is home to the world’s best and brightest, brave men and women who join the armed services for all the right reasons — to serve our country, defend all that we hold sacred and make America’s military the best the world has ever known,” Gillibrand said in a statement last week. “But too often, these brave men and women find themselves in the fight for their lives not off on some faraway battlefield, but right here on our own soil, within their own ranks and commanding officers, as victims of horrific acts of sexual violence.
“Our bipartisan bill takes this issue head on by removing decision-making from the chain of command and giving that discretion to experienced trial counsel with prosecutorial experience where it belongs. That’s how we will achieve accountability, justice and fairness.”
