Kirsten Gillibrand Blames White House in Failure of Military Sexual-Assault Bill
Attorney Susan Burke is featured in this article from the National Journal:
Victim-advocacy groups who support the Gillibrand bill said that it was an important step to finally see a vote after so many fits and starts, but that the increased buzz on the issue still needs to be followed up with decisive legislative action.
“The attention has generated some helpful steps,” said Susan Burke, an attorney who collaborates with Protect Our Defenders on sexual-assault cases. “The problem is that it is like building a house on a faulty foundation. It’s a waste of time and money if you don’t fix the structural problems.”
Prominent fellow Democrat and former sexual-assault prosecutor Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri lobbied colleagues hard against the Gillibrand bill for months, arguing it could lead to fewer prosecutions, not more, by removing commanders’ power.
