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A28 u.s. news
Diabierna 4 Juni 2021

Military leaders wary of changes in sexual assault policy

Members of Congress are Austin held a “listening ses- the new special victim pros-
also pushing for a similar — sion” to hear their concerns ecutor office be under the
and in some respects more in person. jurisdiction of the Defense
expansive — change. Be- Department, rather than hav-
cause any such change would Officials said the Army ex- ing offices overseen by each
amend military law, it will re- pressed doubts about the ac- military service.
quire an act of Congress and curacy of any data suggesting
cannot be done unilaterally that removing commanders The military service memos
by Austin. from the process will result were signed by the three men
in more sexual assault pros- serving as acting secretaries
A longtime advocate for ecutions. The acting Army of the Army, Navy and Air
changing the policy is Sen. secretary, John E. Whitley, Force — all holdovers from
Kirsten Gillibrand, a New in the memo, said that the the Trump administration.
York Democrat, who now change could reduce com- Since then, Christine Wor-
has bipartisan, filibuster- mander effectiveness and ac- muth has been confirmed
proof support for a bill that countability and may reduce as the Army’s new secretary,
(AP) — Military service Austin were from the civilian would take prosecution de- criminal convictions, officials but she took office after the
leaders are privately ex- secretaries of the Army, Navy cisions out of the chain of said. memos had been finalized.
pressing reservations and Air Force and from the command for major crimes,
about removing sexual as- National Guard. including sexual assault, rape As a result, Whitley said, more Wormuth has not specifically
sault cases from the chain and murder. The legislation cases may be settled with ad- addressed the recommen-
of command, The Asso- The reservations expressed has been stalled in a proce- ministrative discipline, and dations, but in a message to
ciated Press has learned, by service leaders could pro- dural struggle in the Senate that can erode victims’ trust the force on Wednesday she
striking a note of caution vide a measure of ammuni- that supporters see as an ef- in the system. said: “We must also elimi-
as momentum builds to- tion for those in Congress fort to delay and water down nate harmful behaviors that
ward changing a military who oppose taking the chain the bill. The Navy offered some sup- undermine readiness. There
justice system that has of command out of sexual as- port for the change. Act- is no place in our Army for
come under increasing sault prosecutions. Support- In testimony on Capitol Hill ing Navy Secretary Thomas sexual harassment and as-
criticism. ers of change, however, argue last week, Austin said the Harker, in his memo, said the sault, domestic violence, ex-
that the current system has military must not be afraid Navy agrees with the concept tremism, or racism.” During
In memos to Defense Sec- failed to address to a prob- to change how it addresses of having an independent her recent Senate confirma-
retary Lloyd Austin, the ser- lem that has long plagued the the problem of sexual assault. judge advocate. But he said tion hearing she also said that
vice leaders laid out their military. He added: ”Clearly what there are a number of ques- the Army must put more fo-
concerns about the growing we’ve been doing hasn’t been tions and concerns about how cus on improving the com-
push to shift prosecution de- Officials said that all service working.” the change is implemented. A mand climate at all levels so
cisions on sexual assault and leaders recognize that change key Navy and Marine Corps younger soldiers feel safe and
possibly other major crimes is virtually certain and that Gen. Mark Milley, chairman concern is that the shift may able to make complaints if
to independent judge ad- they agree more needs to be of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cause delays in prosecutions, needed.
vocates. They said the shift done to improve and profes- previously opposed remov- particularly since many sail-
could decrease the number of sionalize the judge advocate ing commanders from the ors and Marines are deployed Officials said the military
prosecutions, delay cases and corps. But they are concerned process, but he told the AP overseas or on ships for chiefs of the services all par-
potentially provide less help about how quickly changes and CNN recently that he monthslong tours. ticipated in the discussions
for victims. are being made and whether had changed his mind. While leading up to the secretaries’
there is room for negotiation he has not publicly endorsed Acting Air Force Secretary memos. Because the Marine
While they indicated they about how they are imple- any specific change, he said John Roth also said the force Corps is part of the Depart-
are open to changes and im- mented. the time had come to try was open to new approaches, ment of the Navy, there was
provements in the justice something different because including removing cases no separate Marine recom-
system, most were worried Earlier this year, an indepen- “we’ve been at it for years, from the chain of command, mendation. And the Space
about how that would be dent review commission cre- and we haven’t effectively officials said. But he cau- Force was included as part
done while ensuring no un- ated by Austin recommended moved the needle.” tioned that the change could of the Department of the Air
intended harm is done to unit that the prosecution of sexual inadvertently have a nega- Force.
leadership or readiness. Sev- assaults be shifted to judge Austin sought input from the tive impact on commanders’
eral said it would create ad- advocates reporting to a ci- service leaders on the review leadership or accountabil- There was broader agreement
ditional burdensome bureau- vilian-led Office of the Chief board’s recommendations, ity. The Air Force said com- on other recommendations
cracy, according to officials Special Victim Prosecutor. and he is now assessing their manders play a critical role made by the independent
familiar with the memos. The independent judge ad- memos before he reaches a in prevention, victim sup- review panel. The officials
vocates would decide two key conclusion on his own, final port and creating a respectful largely supported efforts to
Several officials described the legal questions: whether to recommended change. He command climate, and any improve the judge advocate
memos to the AP on the con- charge someone and whether met with service secretar- changes must not erode that. corps, and agreed that protec-
dition of anonymity because that charge should go to a ies and chiefs on Tuesday to tive orders for victims should
they have not been made pub- court martial. discuss the issue. Pentagon Several expressed opposition be handled more quickly.
lic. The memos submitted to spokesman John Kirby said to the recommendation that

Police say threat over after 3 officers wounded in Delaware

(AP) — Residents of a trucks and a SWAT team News outlets report that of- to leave the scene.
20-block area of north- converged on the scene after ficers used a Wilmington fire The three officers were hos-
west Wilmington where the officers were wound- ladder to enter a third-floor Police then sent an alert say- pitalized in stable condition,
three officers were shot ed at about 10:30 p.m. on apartment through a win- ing there was no immediate police said. The News Jour-
overnight no longer need Wednesday. Officers with dow early Thursday morn- threat to the public. They nal reports that Fraternal
to shelter in place, po- long guns took up positions ing, and helped a child and a did not say anything about a Order of Police President
lice announced Thursday around an apartment build- woman descend the ladder. shooting suspect or whether Greg Ciotti said one officer
morning. ing as a standoff ensued, Loud bangs could be heard, any arrests have been made. was treated and released,
lasting through the night. and by 10 a.m. , the SWAT The shooting remains under while the other two would
Dozens of police cars, fire team and firefighters began investigation, police said. undergo surgery.