News Blog

Gwen Ifill talks to Sen. Claire McCaskill and Sen. Kelly Ayotte on PBS Newshour: The debate continues over the best...

Washington Post: Military brass claim progress in pursing sexual assault cases

The Washington Post reports: As Congress debates whether to remove sexual assault cases from the chain of command to an...

Government Executive: Reforming How VA Handles Sexual Assault Claims

Government Executive reports: Navy veteran and rape victim Ruth Moore struggled for more than two decades to resolve her disability...

Petoskey News-Review: Support growing for Benishek’s reform bill on military sexual assault

Petoskey News-Review reports: Northern Michigan Congressman Dan Benishek, a Republican in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District, has been calling for fellow...

Politico: Winnefeld’s chain of command takedown – Hagel to announce new military sexual assault directives

Politico reports: Winnefeld said last night that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel would ‘soon’ announce a half dozen new executive actions...

The Bob Edwards Show: How Long Will Rape Be An “Occupational Hazard” Of Military Service?

The Bob Edwards show features Paula Coughline, Protect Our Defenders board member: Paula Coughlin was a Lieutenant in the United...

Politico: Kirsten Gillibrand intensifies effort on sex assault bill

Politico reports: On Tuesday night, she cornered South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott in the GOP’s private cloakroom. Along with Sen....

Detroit Free Press: Michigan congressman pushes for reforms in way military handles sexual assaults

Detroit Free Press reports: U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls, has so far had little luck getting Republican leadership in...

Talking Points Memo: McCaskill, Gillibrand Clash On How To Stop Rape In Military

TPM reports on Protect Our Defenders’ McCaskill attack ad: Publicly, the two Democratic women have remained cordial as they talk...

Associated Press: Soldier arrested on charge of sex assault on child

The AP reports: A Fort Carson soldier has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child after a 14-year-old...

PBS Newshour: Changing the Culture of Sexual Assault Against Female Service Members

A PBS Newshour story quotes Protect Our Defenders’ advisory committee board member Jessica Hinves: Jessica Hinves, an airman first class who...

TIME: Why General Sinclair’s Lawyer Wants the Chain of Command Delinked

Jul 29 2013

Time Magazine reports: Last week, support continued to build for legislation sponsored by Senator Kirstin Gillibrand, D-N.Y., aimed at improving the military’s...

Washington Examiner: Claire McCaskill’s ex-allies attack her over issue of sexual violence

Jul 29 2013

Washington Examiner talks to Protect Our Defenders’ Brian Purchia: Protect Our Defenders says McCaskill brought the criticism on herself with...

Chicago Tribune Editorial: The military’s enemy within

Jul 27 2013

An editorial in the Chicago Tribune writes: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is pushing a bill that would take decisions about...

Houston Chronicle: Military sexual assault legislation divides Democrats

Houston Chronicle reports: The dispute between two Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee heated up Thursday when Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said an...

St. Louis Beacon: McCaskill takes issue with rival approach to deter military sexual assaults

St. Louis Beacon reports on Protect Our Defenders’ campaign: In fact, Protect our Defenders, a group of such victims that...

WTKR: Congress working to help those wrongly discharged for personality, adjustment disorders

WTKR reports: Jessica Hinves thought coming forward to report her rape was the right thing to do, but it ended...

MSNBC: Democratic unity splinters in debate over military sexual assault

MSNBC talks to Protect Our Defenders’ Executive Director, Taryn Meeks: Such voices have long held sway over much of the...

The Military’s Highest Court Rules in Favor of Special Victims’ Counsel