26
May
IN CONGRESS, MOMENTUM GROWS BEHIND EFFORT TO OVERHAUL MILITARY HANDLING OF SEX CRIMES
May 13, 2021
Missy Ryan
Washington Post
Congressional measures targeting sexual assault in the military gained momentum Thursday as lawmakers voiced growing support for overhauling how decisions about prosecuting sex crimes are made.
Proposals in both chambers would strip military commanders of the authority to decide which alleged incidents of sexual assault are tried in military courts and which result in lesser punishments or are dismissed, reflecting lawmakers’ frustration with the failure of earlier attempts to end the scourge of harassment and assault in the ranks.
The measures, championed by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) in