Opinion | The Two Men Blocking Military Sexual Assault Reform

The New York Times lead editorial today urged passage of legislation championed by Sen Kirsten Gillibrand that would move serial assault cases from current "Chain of Command" to independent military prosecutors.

Sen Gillibrand's bill is called, The Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act has 66 cosponsors. Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Jim Inhofe on the Senate Armed Services Committee are described as having reservations.

The editorial cites that a DOD report presented that 20,500 military members were sexually assaulted that year, 13,000 of whom were women. Also presented was the murder last April at Fort Hood of Specialist Vanessa Guillen last April.

Aspects of this bill could be added to the Defense Authorization Bill this fall.

Any perspective on this?

Ken Kraetzer
Editor

The Two Men Blocking Military Sexual Assault Reform