Senate shoots down military sexual assault reform bill
Al Jazeera America reports:
The Senate blocked a bill Thursday that would have stripped senior U.S. military commanders of their authority to prosecute rapes and other serious offenses in the ranks — and instead put prosecutorial power into the hands of military trial lawyers who would operate outside of the military chain of command.
The vote on Thursday was 55–45, short of the 60 necessary to move ahead on the legislation.
The Pentagon’s leadership vigorously opposed the measure, arguing that officers should have more responsibility, not less, for the conduct of the men and women they lead.
