The military has vowed to curb sexual assault for decades to no avail. Now, Congress is stepping in.
WASHINGTON – Congress has stripped authority from military commanders to prosecute sex offenses, a move victims’ advocates have sought for more than a decade while the Pentagon has failed to stem sexual assault in the ranks.
The measure, negotiated by the Senate and House and announced Tuesday, would task independent military lawyers with prosecuting sexual assault cases. That would remove the authority that commanders, who are typically not lawyers, have in making decisions on charging and trying their own troops.