San Antonio Express-News Editorial: The system on assaults is still broken
The San Antonio Express-News takes on the Aviano Air Force Base scandal and the United States’ broken military justice system:
Setting aside the conviction in this particular case prompted an outcry that, along with the epidemic of sexual assaults in the ranks, has resulted in proposals to change military practice when it comes to such assaults.
Franklin didn’t just reverse the conviction but reversed Lt. Col. James Wilkerson’s dismissal from the Air Force and sought to have his promotion to full colonel move forward.
Wilkerson was convicted of sexually assaulting a houseguest, a physician’s assistant who worked as a contractor at Aviano Air Base in Italy.
Normally, a general court-martial’s convening authority, what Franklin was in this case, would not have to explain his actions.
