Times Union: Japan cases boost Gillibrand’s effort
The Times Union reports:
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s relentless fight to take decision-making in sexual abuse cases out of the military chain of command picked up new momentum Monday after an Associated Press investigation revealed haphazard, lenient punishment in such cases at military bases in Japan.
The New York Democrat also won public backing for her bill from yet another senator — the 54th to announce support.
After studying more than 1,000 documents covering at least 600 cases, the AP reported that most service members at bases in Japan who were found culpable in sex crimes did not go to prison but were instead fined, demoted, restricted to their bases or removed from the military. About 30 received only a letter of reprimand.
