POD Statement: Army Battalion Commander Found Guilty of Sexual Harassment in Landmark Military Justice Case
If you would like to interview Ryan Guilds, legal representation for the survivor involved in this hearing, please respond directly or contact brian@protectourdefenders.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2024
Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com
POD is proud to support this case & applauds the survivor’s bravery in pursuing justice
Washington, DC – Former Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army battalion commander, Lt. Col. Herman West has been found guilty of sexual harassment of a subordinate, conduct unbecoming an officer, and maltreatment. This marks one of the first cases to be prosecuted under new military justice reforms that added sexual harassment as a criminal offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Protect Our Defenders (POD) – the pre-eminent national human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual violence in the military – supports the victims who bravely stood up against the scourge of sexual harassment and testified during the court martial. POD also commends the Office of Special Trial counsel and the trial prosecutors for their pursuit of justice.
West was charged with wrongfully and dishonorably mistreating female officers within his command. This includes barging into women’s bathrooms, inappropriate touching, and making unwanted advances. The survivors include a young army officer recently graduated from college and an ROTC program, who testified on Tuesday.
This comes amid the military’s severe recruitment and retention crisis – with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard all falling short of their recruiting goals in 2023 – emphasizing the importance of retaining women to achieve mission readiness. This also comes as the military grapples with an escalating sexual assault crisis. Recent high-profile cases include the more than 100 victims accusing Army doctor Maj. Michael Stockin of sexual assault and Army Major Jonathan J. Batt facing allegations of assaulting at least 20 victims in the Washington D.C. area.
Protect Our Defenders Senior Vice President, Josh Connolly, former Chief of Staff for Rep. Jackie Speier (former Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee), released the following statement:
“Today’s verdict represents a critical milestone in our ongoing fight to end sexual harassment and assault in the military. I commend this brave service member for her extraordinary courage in coming forward to hold Lt. Co. West accountable.
“This case, one of the first prosecuted under new sexual harassment criminal offense laws, sends a clear message that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated in our armed forces. We cannot maintain our status as an elite fighting force without fully embracing and supporting the contributions of all service members, including women, who are integral to our military’s strength and effectiveness. Every week, the number of service members harmed by sexual violence is equivalent to a battalion – at the same time, the military is facing a recruitment and retention crisis.
“Protect Our Defenders is proud to support the soldiers who showed what it means to be a military officer in the United States Army – standing up to confront wrongs, telling the truth, and fighting for justice. Our military’s strength depends on creating a culture of respect, safety, and equal opportunity for all service members and today is a hopeful sign for the future.”
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About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders is the pre-eminent national human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual violence, victim retaliation, misogyny, sexual prejudice, and racism in the military and combating a culture that has allowed it to persist. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, and re-victimized by the military adjudication system – a system that often blames the victim and fails to prosecute the perpetrator. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ProtectOurDefenders or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ProtectRDfnders.
