Washington Post: Air Force general to retire after criticism for handling of sexual assault case
The Washington Post reports:
A three-star Air Force general whose handling of sexual assault cases drew withering criticism from advocacy groups and some lawmakers retired under pressure Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, the commander of the Third Air Force in Europe, acknowledged that he had become a “distraction” for the Air Force for his controversial decision to overturn a sexual assault
conviction of a star fighter pilot and for a separate case in which he decided there was not enough evidence to court-martial an accused rapist.
[…]
“Military leadership supported Franklin for far too long,” said Nancy Parrish, president of Protect our Defenders, an advocacy group that represents sex crime victims in the military. “While he should have been removed a year ago, it is good to hear that they finally have done the right thing.”Air Force officials said that Franklin was not forced to retire, but acknowledged that he had been under scrutiny.
