US News and World Report: Military Sexual Assaults Panel Meets Behind Closed Doors
From US News and World Report:
A string of ongoing hearings and meetings conducted by a powerful panel will ultimately offer recommendations to the Pentagon chief on how to stem the growing tide of sexual assaults in the military.
At the forefront of the debate is whether the military should overturn current rules that senior officers should oversee sexual assault cases within their chain of command. The Pentagon has been openly vocal about its support of the policy, while some members of Congress and advocacy groups have staunchly opposed it, most vocally Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who has introduced legislation that would change the rules.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel put together the nine-member Response Systems to Adult Sexual Assault Crimes Panel (RSP) – comprised of retired military officers, a former member of Congress and legal experts – to study this and other issues related to sexual assaults. The panel’s Role of the Commander subcommittee met Wednesday behind closed doors at a military office building outside Washington, D.C.
