Minnesota Lieutenant Governor: Gillibrand amendment is right way
Minnesota Lieutenant Governor John Walsh backs Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) in this op-ed from The Hill:
That’s why I support legislation sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to remove prosecutions from the purview of military commanders — much like the Montana National Guard does. This legislation has earned widespread support on both sides of the aisle.
I recently watched the Senate Armed Services Committee hold hearings on assaults in the armed forces. I’m deeply gratified that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are working together to make changes that simply must happen for the sake of justice and safety.
For generations, too many military leaders have believed that removing these responsibilities from commanders would somehow undermine their authority on other matters. I’m confident that is not the case.
Sexual assault is a despicable and tragic crime. We must do everything we can to ensure justice for the survivors. We must fight for the women and men who fight for us. And I look forward to being part of this critical discussion.
