A few days ago, the Senate killed a bill by NY Senator Kirsten Gillebrand that would have taken the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault in the military out of the hands of commanders. Instead, they opted for a rival bill by Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. This comes at the same time that a Brigadier General is being court-martialed for an affair he had with an underling, and the Army’s top sexual assault lawyer has been accused of sexual assault at a sexual assault legal conference.
I talked this all over on my America Weekend show with Greg Jacob, policy director for the Service Women’s Action Network. We discussed how many military women (and men) have been victims of sexual assault and/or harassment, the merits of the competing Senate bills, and what will happen next for those who have to fight off friendly foes.
Listen to our conversation here.