Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel Hearings: Sexual Assault in the Military (March 24, 2021)

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Administrator

SASC Sexual Assault in the Military Hearings (March 24, 2021)

Transcript for Committee on Armed Services to Receive Testimony on Sexual Assault in the Military

“Sexual assault victims and victims’ advocates testified on the need for Congress to address prevention and handling of such cases in the military. The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel convened the hearing and was considering various proposals, including making changes to the military justice system, to address how assault cases are prosecuted.” –Sexual Assault in the Military | CSPAN.org (March 24, 2021)

Video:

Senate armed services committee holds hearing on sexual assault in the military

Senator Elizabeth Warren on Sexual Assault in the Military

Sen. Gillibrand: sexual assault in military an ‘epidemic’ that’s getting worse

How personal experience is guiding this military corp’s attempt to combat sexual assault

Sen. Gillibrand Pushes For Sexual Assault Reform In Military

Witness Testimony of Ms. Amy Braley Franck, Founder, Never Alone:

Ms. Amy Braley Franck, Never Alone Advocacy

Download Testimony here.

Chairman Gillibrand, Ranking Member Tillis, and Members of the Committee, I thank you for this opportunity.

My name is Amy Braley Franck I have been working with victims of sexual violence since 2006. Currently employed as Victims’ Advocate at 416th Theater Engineer Command.

I am currently being retaliated against for reporting Command for illegally concealing and failing to report 3 violent Sexual Assaults to Law Enforcement.

I have been on a paid suspension since 20 November 2019 the day after I emailed LTG Charles Luckey the evidence. I emailed the same evidence to the Chief of Staff of the Army, GEN James McConville on 22 November 2019. I also sent this evidence to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, GEN Mark Milley and DOD SAPRO Admiral Burkhart and Nate Galbreath. This evidence mirrors what was documented in the Ft. Hood Report.

Sexual assaults and violent rapes not reported to CID or Law Enforcement, there was retaliation against victims and reporters of crimes, no Case Management Group or attendance for over a year.

I have been left in this “suspension” after protecting victims and reporting command for over 16 months completely ostracized and isolated in retaliation.

This evidence was reported to the Office of Special Counsel and the DOD IG

The Army’s Internal 15-6 process has impeded justice for my victims and myself. This internal investigative process does not allow for transparency and should be abolished.

A 17-year-old Private in Granite City, Illinois reserve center was raped resulting in broken bones. She had to stand next to her assailant in formation. The Command’s illegal 15-6 investigation was documented in a Memorandum for Record.

For over a year no one assisted her until I was notified in June 2019 but after my suspension, that ended.

Advocates are continually blocked by layers of Command from protecting their victims. When Commanders ignore the advice of Advocates, we have no recourse. There are no consequences for Commanders when they violate law.

Documented by the number of murders and murders by suicide. Nicole Burnham’s, Brigade Commander Col John Mountford left Nicole in the same barracks at Camp Casey with her offenders raped and later gang raped tortured for over 82 days before her Transfer was executed. Nicole is dead.

Staff Sgt. Morgan Robinson’s first offender is still serving in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Staff Sgt. Robinson’s report of 9 Special Forces Soldiers placing a covering over her head, dragging her out of a tent and gang-raping her. Never investigated.

An outstanding Soldier committed Suicide; she was not protected.

Lavena Johnson’s brutal murder has never been investigated. The Army still states that it was a suicide.

16 years later the toxic culture again exposed with the murder of Vanessa Guillen.

This is not isolated to Fort Hood, documented across all components of the Military.

Ft. Campbell April 2020 another victim of a gang rape was arrested illegally by CID and denied counsel.

MG Shadley retired alerted MG Donna Martin. Nothing was done.

Never Alone helped Soldier with Suicidal Ideations. She is still fighting to clear her record.

Fort Bliss, 31 December 2020 Pfc. Asia Graham was found dead. Asia’s offender is identified as an accused serial rapist. Walking free no pre-trial confinement. He continued to live in the same barracks on the same floor with Asia and was moved into Headquarters Company with Asia until her untimely death.

Asia’s leadership failed to protect her after she reported her rape in February 2020 not June.

PVT Richard Halliday is still missing from Ft. Bliss.

When victims and victim advocates speak out about the broken process and illegal actions of commanders. We face severe retaliation.

All felony crimes murder, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence do not belong within the chain of Command’s control to investigate or prosecute.

Kamisha Block’s death deemed friendly fire, she was murdered due to Domestic Abuse.

The Abuse of Power is real.

In Italy the Provost Marshal,LTC Michae Parsons Army Garrison filed an espionage charge in Italian Court against an Army Spouse, Michela Morellato. Retaliation for exposing Gen Harrington resulting in his firing and demotion. This retaliation was reported to GEN Milley and IG. Nothing was done.

Illegal internal 15-6 process. Ability to redact investigations. None of us will ever know the truth or get justice.

Just this week my own sexual assault by a 2-star general still under investigation was improperly released to be weaponized against another sexual assault advocate during an unrelated court martial. The military has no checks and balances.

I was raised in the military and a proud mother of a Veteran. I will not stop until our Military is a safe. “Sexual misconduct is an abuse of power and force protection issue. The inability of commanders to execute essential command functions of “protection” is a significant threat to the United States Military’s ability to protect this great Nation.” Soldiers should Never be Alone.

Other Witnesses:
Ms. Amy Marsh, Military Spouse
Mr. Quinton McNair, Former SARC/SHARP Victim Advocate
Ms. Brenda S. Farrell, Director, Defense Capabilities And Management, GAO
Mr. Eugene R. Fidell, Senior Research Scholar, Yale Law School Adjunct Professor Of Law, New York University Law School
Colonel Don M. Christensen, USAF (Ret.), President, Protect Our Defenders
Colonel Lawrence J. Morris, USA Ret. (No electronic testimony submitted)

Honoring the Fallen:

Army Pvt. Nicole Burnham Found Unresponsive in Fort Carson Barracks; Death Ruled Suicide After Sexual Assault, Retaliation & a Three Month Expedited Transfer Delay (January 26, 2018)

Morgan Robinson, Army National Guard: “They took her soul”: Army did “nothing” for soldier who reported sexual assault, mom says

Fort Campbell Army Pfc. LaVena Johnson Died of Non Combat Related Injuries in Iraq; Death Ruled Suicide But Independent Investigation Revealed Rape and Murder (July 19, 2005)

Speier, Mullin Introduce Bipartisan ‘I Am Vanessa Guillén Act’ to Transform the Military’s Response to Sexual Violence & Missing Servicemembers (September 16, 2020)

Asia Graham, U.S. Army: New sexual assault accusations after soldier’s death at Fort Bliss; Army opens investigation

Richard Halliday, U.S. Army: Search Continues for Fort Bliss Soldier Reported Missing Over 200 Days

Fort Hood Army Staff Sgt. Paul Norris Fatally Shot Spc. Kamisha Block in Murder-Suicide in Iraq; Family Calls for Congressional Hearings & Independent Investigations (August 16, 2007)

Senators Cruz, Gillibrand, Grassley Offer Bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act as Amendment to Defense Bill (July 2, 2020)

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Administrator

Find contact information and how your Senators voted here.

Contact the SASC & HASC Members here.

Gillibrand: The Military Justice Improvement Act Would Give Service Members a Justice System That Works (July 1, 2019)

“U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and I recently announced that we will offer the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act as an amendment to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. The Military Justice Improvement Act would professionalize how the military prosecutes serious crimes by moving the decision over whether to prosecute them to independent, trained, professional military prosecutors.

Despite years of Congressional reforms, thousands of service members are raped and sexually assaulted every year. In many of those cases, the assailant is someone in the survivor’s own chain of command. Only a small fraction of the perpetrators are ever held accountable for their violent crimes. Last year, the Department of Defense announced a record number of sexual assaults reported by or against service members, and yet, less than 10 percent of cases considered for command action ever proceeded to trial. Worse yet, despite repeated efforts to stamp out the scourge of retaliation against military sexual assault survivors, the most recent Pentagon survey found that 64 percent of survivors say they have experienced some form of retaliation for reporting the crime. That figure is statistically unchanged from 2016.”

Gillibrand: The Military Justice Improvement Act Would Give Service Members a Justice System That Works (July 1, 2019)

Featured

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Administrator

You can listen to U.S. Navy veteran Brian Lewis’ March 13, 2013 testimony to the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel here.

“Nearly 30 years ago, when George H. W. Bush was president and Dick Cheney was the secretary of defense, the Pentagon made a promise to our service members. Dozens of Navy and Marine Corps aviation officers had just been investigated for the infamous Tailhook sexual assault scandal, and America’s military leadership affirmed a “zero tolerance” policy toward sexual assault within their ranks. The military had a sexual assault problem, and pledged to solve it.

It’s painfully clear that the military has now failed at this mission by almost any metric. For years, survivor after survivor has told us the change in the system we needed to make to end this scourge — the same change that a number of our allies around the world have already made: take the adjudication of these crimes outside of the chain of command and allow trained military prosecutors to prosecute them.” Read more opinion at Military Times here.

“The Military Justice Improvement Act would take the prosecution of sexual assault and other serious crimes, such as murder, out of the chain of command. It would keep those crimes in the military justice system, but put the decision to prosecute them into the hands of actual military prosecutors who are trained to deal with complex legal issues.” –Senator Kirsten Gillbrand (Military Times, July 1, 2019)

Gillibrand Leads Bipartisan Coalition to Reform Military Justice System -Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (May 16, 2013)

Senate Armed Services Committee Members & House Armed Services Committee Members (June 21, 2019)

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Administrator

Screen Shot 2019-06-21 at 12.54.14 PM.png

Senate Armed Services Committee (2019)

SASC Members (2019): https://www.armed-services.senate.gov

@SASCMajority (Twitter)
@SASCDems (Twitter)
SASC Twitter List (MJFA)

SASC Leadership (2019):
James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman @JimInhofe – https://www.inhofe.senate.gov
Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member @SenJackReed – https://www.reed.senate.gov

SASC Majority (2019):
Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) @SenatorWicker – https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/
Deb Fischer (R-NE) @SenatorFischer – https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/
Tom Cotton (R-AR) @SenTomCotton – https://www.cotton.senate.gov
Mike Rounds (R-SD) @SenatorRounds – https://www.rounds.senate.gov
Joni Ernst (R-IA) @SenJoniErnst – https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/
Thom Tillis (R-NC) @SenThomTillis – https://www.tillis.senate.gov
Dan Sullivan (R-AK) @SenDanSullivan – https://www.sullivan.senate.gov
David Perdue (R-GA) @SenDavidPerdue – https://www.perdue.senate.gov
Kevin Cramer (R-ND) @SenKevinCramer – https://www.cramer.senate.gov
Martha McSally (R-AZ) @SenMcSallyAZ – https://www.mcsally.senate.gov
Rick Scott (R-FL) @SenRickScott – https://www.rickscott.senate.gov
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) @MarshaBlackburn – https://www.blackburn.senate.gov
Josh Hawley (R-MO) @HawleyMO – https://www.hawley.senate.gov

SASC Minority (2019):
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) @SenatorShaheen – https://www.shaheen.senate.gov (MJIA)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) @SenGillibrand – https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov (MJIA)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) @SenBlumenthal – https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov (MJIA)
Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) @MazieHirono – https://www.hirono.senate.gov (MJIA)
Tim Kaine (D-VA) @TimKaine – https://www.kaine.senate.gov
Angus King (I-ME) @SenAngusKing – https://www.king.senate.gov
Martin Heinrich (D-NM) @MartinHeinrich – https://www.heinrich.senate.gov (MJIA)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) @SenWarren – https://www.warren.senate.gov (MJIA)
Gary C. Peters (D-MI) @SenGaryPeters – https://www.peters.senate.gov
Joe Manchin III (D-WV) @Sen_JoeManchin – https://www.manchin.senate.gov
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) @SenDuckworth – https://www.duckworth.senate.gov (MJIA)
Doug Jones (D-AL) @SenDougJones – https://www.jones.senate.gov

House Armed Services Committee (2019)

HASC Members (2019): https://armedservices.house.gov/meet-our-members

HASC Leadership (2019):
Rep Adam Smith (D-WA), Chairman @RepAdamSmith – https://adamsmith.house.gov
Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Ranking Member @MacTXPress – https://thornberry.house.gov

HASC Democrats (2019):
Susan Davis (D-CA) @RepSusanDavis – https://susandavis.house.gov
James R. Langevin (D-RI) @JimLangevin – https://langevin.house.gov
Rick Larsen (D-WA) @RepRickLarsen – https://larsen.house.gov
Jim Cooper (D-TN) @RepJimCooper – https://cooper.house.gov
Joe Courtney (D-CT) @JoeCourtneyCT – https://courtney.house.gov
John Garamendi (D-CA) @RepGaramendi – https://garamendi.house.gov
Jackie Speier (D-CA) @RepSpeier – https://speier.house.gov
Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) @TulsiPress – https://gabbard.house.gov
Donald Norcross (D-NJ) @DonaldNorcross – https://norcross.house.gov
Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) @RepRubenGallego – https://rubengallego.house.gov
Seth Moulton: (D-MA) @SethMoulton – https://moulton.house.gov
Salud Carbajal (D-CA) @RepCarbajal – https://carbajal.house.gov
Anthony Brown (D-MD) @RepAnthonyBrown – https://anthonybrown.house.gov
Ro Khanna (D-CA) @RepRoKhanna – https://khanna.house.gov
William Keating (D-MA) @USRepKeating – https://keating.house.gov
Filemon Vela (D-TX) @RepFilemonVela – https://vela.house.gov
Andy Kim (D-NJ) @RepAndyKimNJ – https://kim.house.gov
Kendra Horn (D-OK) @RepKendraHorn – https://horn.house.gov
Gil Cisneros (D-CA) @RepGilCisneros – https://cisneros.house.gov
Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) @RepHoulahan – https://houlahan.house.gov
Jason Crow (D-CO) @RepJasonCrow – https://crow.house.gov
Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) @RepTorresSmall – https://torressmall.house.gov
Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) @ElissaSlotkin – https://slotkin.house.gov
Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) @RepSherrill – https://sherrill.house.gov
Katie Hill (D-CA) @RepKatieHill – https://katiehill.house.gov
Veronica Escobar (D-TX) @RepEscobar – https://escobar.house.gov
Deb Haaland (D-NM) @RepDebHaaland – https://haaland.house.gov
Jared Golden (D-ME) @RepGolden – https://golden.house.gov
Lori Trahan (D-MA) @LoriTrahanMA – https://trahan.house.gov
Elaine Luria (D-VA) @ElaineLuriaVA – https://luria.house.gov

HASC Republicans (2019):
Joe Wilson (R-SC) @RepJoeWilson – https://joewilson.house.gov
Rob Bishop (R-UT) @RepRobBishop – https://robbishop.house.gov
Michael Turner (R-OH) @RepMikeTurner – https://turner.house.gov
Mike Rogers (R-AL) @RepMikeRogersAL – https://mikerogers.house.gov
K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) @ConawayTX11 – https://conaway.house.gov
Doug Lamborn (R-CO) @RepDLamborn – http://lamborn.house.gov
Robert Wittman (R-VA) @RobWittman – https://wittman.house.gov
Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) @RepHartzler – https://hartzler.house.gov
Austin Scott (R-GA) @AustinScottGA08 – https://austinscott.house.gov
Mo Brooks (R-AL) @RepMoBrooks – https://brooks.house.gov
Paul Cook (R-CA) @RepPaulCook – https://cook.house.gov
Bradley Byrne (R-AL) @RepByrne – https://byrne.house.gov
Sam Graves (R-MO) @RepSamGraves – https://graves.house.gov
Elise Stefanik (R-NY) @RepStefanik – https://stefanik.house.gov
Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) @DesJarlaisTN04 – https://desjarlais.house.gov
Ralph Abraham (R-LA) @RepAbraham – https://abraham.house.gov
Trent Kelly (R-MS) @RepTrentKelly – https://trentkelly.house.gov
Mike Gallagher (R-WI) @RepGallagher – https://gallagher.house.gov
Matt Gaetz (R-FL) @RepMattGaetz – https://gaetz.house.gov
Don Bacon (R-NE) @RepDonBacon – https://bacon.house.gov
Jim Banks (R-IN) @RepJimBanks – https://banks.house.gov
Liz Cheney (R-WY) @RepLizCheney – https://cheney.house.gov
Paul Mitchell (R-MI) @RepPaulMitchell – https://mitchell.house.gov
Jack Bergman (R-MI) @RepJackBergman – https://bergman.house.gov
Michael Waltz (R-FL) @RepMichaelWaltz – https://waltz.house.gov

S. 1789: Military Justice Improvement Act of 2019 Reintroduced by Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York (June 13, 2019)

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Administrator

Military Justice Improvement Act #PassMJIA

Sens. Cruz, Gillibrand Reintroduce Military Justice Improvement Act (June 13, 2019)

“U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and I today led a bipartisan group of senators to reintroduce the Military Justice Improvement Act, which would professionalize how the military prosecutes serious crimes by moving the decision over whether to prosecute them to independent, trained, professional military prosecutors.” –Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

The Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) of 2019 is sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and cosponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

Editor’s Note: The below U.S. Senate list was compiled from the S. 967: MJIA of 2013 Senate Voting Record. The last time the Senate voted on the MJIA was March 6, 2014. Senator Gillibrand has reintroduced the MJIA every year since. Since 2014, the make-up of the Senate has changed. The still seated Senators who voted Yea and Nay in 2014 are listed as Yes and No in this list. The new senators who cosponsored the MJIA in 2019 have been added to the Yes list; the new Senators who stand with military brass (McSally & Ernst) have been added to the No list; and the rest of new Senators have been listed as unknown (Unk) because we don’t know how they will vote on this bill. Please contact your two Senators, these Senators, and both the SASC Members & HASC Members. Click on the Senator’s name and submit your support for the MJIA via the web or click on the Yes, Unk, or No to send them a message via Twitter. We provided an example tweet you can feel free to copy and paste or you can submit your own personalized message.

Example Tweet:

.@Sen_JoeManchin

Reasons we need your support:
1. Kamisha Block @USArmy: wp.me/p3XTUi-yc
2. Paige Briles #Army: wp.me/p3XTUi-5kn
3. Brandon Caserta @USNavy: wp.me/p3XTUi-8zg
4. @forthood Stateside Deaths: wp.me/p3XTUi-5oF

#PassMJIA @SASCDems

UNITED STATES SENATORS (2019)

C = Cosponsor of Military Justice Improvement Act
S = Senate Armed Service Committee (SASC) Member

State	District	Name	Party	Vote
NH	Sr, C, S	Sen. Jeanne Shaheen	Democratic	Yes
VT	Jr, C	Sen. Bernard Sanders	Independent	Yes
MN	Sr, C	Sen. Amy Klobuchar	Democratic	Yes
TX	Jr, C	Sen. Ted Cruz	Republican	Yes
NM	Jr, C, S	Sen. Martin Heinrich	Democratic	Yes
MA	Sr, C, S	Sen. Elizabeth Warren	Democratic	Yes
HI	Sr	Sen. Brian Schatz	Democratic	Yes
NY	Jr, C, S	Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand	Democratic	Yes
CA	Sr, C	Sen. Dianne Feinstein	Democratic	Yes
PA	Sr, C	Sen. Bob Casey	Democratic	Yes
CT	Jr	Sen. Chris Murphy	Democratic	Yes
HI	Jr, C, S	Sen. Mazie Hirono	Democratic	Yes
KY	Sr	Sen. Mitch McConnell	Republican	Yes
VT	Sr, C	Sen. Patrick Leahy	Democratic	Yes
DE	Jr, C	Sen. Chris Coons	Democratic	Yes
CO	Sr, C	Sen. Michael Bennet	Democratic	Yes
WA	Sr	Sen. Patty Murray	Democratic	Yes
IA	Sr, C	Sen. Charles Grassley	Republican	Yes
NJ	Sr, C	Sen. Bob Menendez	Democratic	Yes
OR	Jr, C	Sen. Jeffery Merkley	Democratic	Yes
ME	Sr	Sen. Susan Collins	Republican	Yes
IL	Sr, C	Sen. Richard Durbin	Democratic	Yes
WY	Sr	Sen. Michael Enzi	Republican	Yes
WA	Jr	Sen. Maria Cantwell	Democratic	Yes
MI	Sr	Sen. Debbie Stabenow	Democratic	Yes
NY	Sr	Sen. Charles Schumer	Democratic	Yes
OR	Sr, C	Sen. Ron Wyden	Democratic	Yes
OH	Sr, C	Sen. Sherrod Brown	Democratic	Yes
NJ	Jr, C	Sen. Cory Booker	Democratic	Yes
NM	Sr, C	Sen. Tom Udall	Democratic	Yes
KS	Jr	Sen. Jerry Moran	Republican	Yes
MD	Sr	Sen. Ben Cardin	Democratic	Yes
KY	Jr, C	Sen. Rand Paul	Republican	Yes
MA	Jr, C	Sen. Edward Markey	Democratic	Yes
AK	Sr, C	Sen. Lisa Murkowski	Republican	Yes
CT	Sr, C, S	Sen. Richard Blumenthal	Democratic	Yes
WI	Jr, C	Sen. Tammy Baldwin	Democratic	Yes
MN	Jr, C	Sen. Tina Smith	Democratic	Yes
NH	Jr, C	Sen. Maggie Hassan	Democratic	Yes
CA	Jr, C	Sen. Kamala Harris	Democratic	Yes
IL	Jr, C, S	Sen. Tammy Duckworth	Democratic	Yes
MD	Jr	Sen. Chris Van Hollen	Democratic	Unk
AK	Jr, S	Sen. Dan Sullivan	Republican	Unk
IN	Jr	Sen. Mike Braun	Republican	Unk
IN	Jr	Sen. Todd Young	Republican	Unk
NV	Jr	Sen. Jacky Rosen	Democratic	Unk
NV	Jr	Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto	Democratic	Unk
LA	Jr	Sen. John Kennedy	Republican	Unk
LA	Jr	Sen. Bill Cassidy	Republican	Unk
ND	Jr, S	Sen. Kevin Cramer	Republican	Unk
WV	Jr	Sen. Shelley Moore Capito	Republican	Unk
CO	Jr	Sen. Cory Gardner	Republican	Unk
AR	Sr, S	Sen. Tom Cotton	Republican	Unk
NE	Jr	Sen. Ben Sasse	Republican	Unk
SD	Jr, S	Sen. Mike Rounds	Republican	Unk
MT	Jr	Sen. Steve Daines	Republican	Unk
NC	Jr, S	Sen. Thom Tillis	Republican	Unk
TN	Jr, S	Sen. Marsha Blackburn	Republican	Unk
AZ	Jr	Sen. Kyrsten Sinema	Democratic	Unk
UT	Jr	Sen. Mitt Romney	Republican	Unk
GA	Jr, S	Sen. David Perdue	Republican	Unk
FL	Jr, S	Sen. Rick Scott	Republican	Unk
MO	Jr, S	Sen. Josh Hawley	Republican	Unk
MS	Jr	Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith	Republican	Unk
MI	Jr, S	Sen. Gary Peters	Democratic	Unk
OK	Jr	Sen. James Lankford	Republican	Unk
AL	Jr, S	Sen. Doug Jones	Democratic	Unk
AZ	Jr, S	Sen. Martha McSally	Republican	No
IA	Jr, S	Sen. Joni Ernst	Republican	No
MT	Sr	Sen. Jon Tester	Democratic	No
ID	Jr	Sen. James Risch	Republican	No
FL	Sr	Sen. Marco Rubio	Republican	No
ND	Sr	Sen. John Hoeven	Republican	No
RI	Jr	Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse	Democratic	No
WI	Sr	Sen. Ron Johnson	Republican	No
VA	Sr	Sen. Mark Warner	Democratic	No
SC	Jr	Sen. Timothy Scott	Republican	No
VA	Jr, S	Sen. Tim Kaine	Democratic	No
DE	Sr	Sen. Tom Carper	Democratic	No
NE	Sr, S	Sen. Deb Fischer	Republican	No
MS	Sr, S	Sen. Roger Wicker	Republican	No
ID	Sr	Sen. Mike Crapo	Republican	No
AL	Sr	Sen. Richard Shelby	Republican	No
ME	Jr, S	Sen. Angus King	Independent	No
RI	Sr, S	Sen. Jack Reed	Democratic	No
MO	Sr	Sen. Roy Blunt	Republican	No
TN	Sr	Sen. Lamar Alexander	Republican	No
SD	Sr	Sen. John Thune	Republican	No
UT	Sr	Sen. Mike Lee	Republican	No
PA	Jr	Sen. Patrick Toomey	Republican	No
OH	Jr	Sen. Rob Portman	Republican	No
TX	Sr	Sen. John Cornyn	Republican	No
NC	Sr	Sen. Richard Burr	Republican	No
SC	Sr	Sen. Lindsey Graham	Republican	No
OK	Sr, S	Sen. Jim Inhofe	Republican	No
KS	Sr	Sen. Pat Roberts	Republican	No
WY	Jr	Sen. John Barrasso	Republican	No
WV	Sr, S	Sen. Joe Manchin	Democratic	No
GA	Sr	Sen. Johnny Isakson	Republican	No
AR	Sr	Sen. John Boozman	Republican	No

Military Rape Documentary Funded and Distributed by “Serial Predator” and Hollywood Movie Executive Harvey Weinstein

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Administrator

Listen to a NYPD sting operation recording of Harvey Weinstein here.

Both “The Invisible War” and “The Hunting Ground” were documentaries produced and directed by Hollywood filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. The Invisible War was an unvetted documentary about sexual assault and rape in the U.S. military. It was lauded by the masses, showcased at the Pentagon, and apparently used to influence Senator Claire McCaskill’s military justice legislation. Before we could wrap our heads around how these filmmakers had silenced veteran’s voices (again), they released The Hunting Ground, another unvetted documentary about sexual assault and rape on our nation’s campuses. And now we are learning that these documentaries were both funded and distributed by “serial predator” and Hollywood movie executive Harvey Weinstein of the Weinstein Company. In the wake of this provable scandal, Amy Ziering came to the defense of the indefensible and admitted in an interview that The Invisible War resulted in thirty five pieces of legislation passed by Congress.

The problem is the only laws passed were Senator Claire McCaskill’s bills. By taking credit for Claire McCaskill’s legislation (that military and veterans did not want), Ziering is admitting to undermining veteran’s efforts to secure due process rights for service members. We wanted them to have due process rights in the military justice system AND with non judicial punishment, retaliation, mental health, security clearance, and discharge. There’s nothing to take credit for unless you back Senator Claire McCaskill’s flawed military sexual assault legislation. Veterans resoundingly wanted the Military Justice Improvement Act sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and supported by multiple bi-partisan Senators including conservatives who saw the constitutional issues with the command directed approach. BUT it was railroaded by Senator Claire McCaskill, Senator Carl Levin (now retired), and Senator Kelly Ayotte (now fired). And obviously backed by the filmmakers of a documentary about sexual assault funded and distributed by the very serial predator veterans were trying to hold accountable, especially the leadership tasked with implementing Senator McCaskill’s bills.

The connection has been made. In the wake of the flawed and failed policy in both the military and on college campuses, what these folks felt they knew was best actually created new victims. And it isn’t coincidental that the legislation passed in the military mirrors the unconstitutional use of preponderance of the evidence (50%+) on college campuses. This 2011 guidance came from Obama’s Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and Senator Claire McCaskill and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are trying to get the policy codified as law with the CASA Act. In a stunning twist, newly appointed Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos reversed the harmful policy and reinstated due process protections for the accused on campus. The days of believe all women OR ELSE and holding institutions of authority hostage if you don’t believe the alleged victim are over on our college campuses. Campuses are able to reverse the harmful policy guidance but veterans have to reverse 35 pieces of sexual assault specific legislation that have had devastating consequences on military members and their families.

For all of its flaws and fabrications, “The Hunting Ground,” Harvey Weinstein’s activist documentary film about sexual assault on college campuses, finally succeeded in helping to actually identify a real predator — the filmmaker himself. And, although some of his apologists like filmmaker Rob Reiner tried to excuse Mr. Weinstein’s predatory behavior by saying that he should be lauded for having funded the film to expose the epidemic of rape on college campuses, “The Hunting Ground” helped to fuel a moral panic about sex abuse that directly led to Mr. Weinstein’s own professional demise…The good news is that as more and more powerful people become swept up in the hysteria surrounding sexual assault and people see themselves as vulnerable to such charges, the panic will end as spontaneously as it began. In some ways, a moral panic can be viewed as a “correction” — not unlike a market correction. We needed to bring attention to the Harvey Weinsteins lurking among us. Perhaps now we can now begin to look at sexual assault more rationally — identifying the “real” predators among us. Prof. Anne Hendershott, Washington Times

Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton Picks Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine As VP Running Mate; Kaine Blocked Military Justice Improvement Act in Historic Vote (July 22, 2016)

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Administrator

Just got off the phone with Hillary. I’m honored to be her running mate. Can’t wait to hit the trail tomorrow in Miami!

— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) July 23, 2016

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)

Hillary Clinton picked Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia as her Vice Presidential running mate. What is interesting about this pick is at one point in a Time magazine article in 2014, Clinton showed public support of the Military Justice Improvement Act, yet she chooses Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) as her vice presidential running mate who has been blocking the bill since 2013. Of course Senator Angus King (I-ME) endorses this choice since he too has been blocking the due process bill sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Susan Collins, Senator Rand Paul, Senator Ted Cruz, and many other bi-partisan Senators advocating for constitutional rights for military personnel and veterans.

“The move was surprising in that it means that if she becomes President, the normally hawkish Clinton would go against the advice of military brass and remove the cases from the chain of command. It also must have had a little bit of a silver lining dig at McCaskill, who endorsed Barack Obama over Clinton in 2008.” ~Time (2014)

Continue reading →

Vox: The War in Congress Over Rape in the Military, Explained (June 8, 2016)

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Administrator

By Emily Crockett

“Sexual assault is a huge problem in the US military. And for many victims, the process of reporting their crime and seeking justice can be as traumatic as their assault.

Most members of Congress and military officials agree that these basic facts are true, and that more reforms to the military justice system could help. But there’s a profound disagreement on how, and how much, the system needs to change.

The US Senate is expected to vote this week on the Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA). Advocates, who have been pushing for the MJIA since 2013, say the reform would make the process of prosecuting sex crimes a lot easier and smoother for victims and help victims feel more empowered to come forward and report the crimes against them.

An unusual bipartisan cadre of senators support the MJIA, from Elizabeth Warren to Ted Cruz. But the Pentagon adamantly opposes it, and many senators listen to the Pentagon when it says the MJIA would undermine “good order and discipline.” So there’s still no filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority for the measure, and it’s been defeated every year it’s come up.”

NBC Washington: 62 Percent of Military Sex Assault Reports Result in Retaliation (May 18, 2015)

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Administrator

“One of the women interviewed was Lt. Col. Teresa James, the highest ranking officer to come forward with a rape claim in the National Guard, according to a recent report by the Guard. The News4 I-Team first brought you her story when she said she believes her 34-year military career with the West Virginia National Guard was destroyed after she reported her rape. Lt. Col. James attended the news conference and told the I-Team, ‘There’s nothing else they can do to hurt me. They did everything they could possibly do. It’s effecting change. That’s why I’m out today. It’s effecting change, and if I have to speak it, shout it from the rooftops, that’s what I’m going to do.’ Read more from NBC Washington here.

Retired Marine Stephanie Schroeder Fights for Servicemember’s Rights at the United Nation’s Geneva Conventions (November 11, 2014)

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Administrator

Marine veteran Stephanie Schroeder addressing the United Nations (November 11, 2014)

Stephanie Schroeder is a retired United States Marine Corps veteran who was wrongfully discharged from service after reporting a felony crime to USMC authorities. As a result of reporting these crimes, she experienced retaliation from her peers and leadership and was subsequently given a honorable discharge but her DD 214 indicated that she was released from duty due to a personality disorder. Stephanie sought justice to right a wrong committed by her leadership. She was never given any testing to determine if she in fact had a personality disorder nor did she see any medical personnel who would have had an opportunity to diagnose her with a personality disorder. Through research and determination, Stephanie learned that other veterans who had reported sexual assault in the military had also experienced retaliation in one form or another after reporting the crime(s) to leadership. She vowed to not only fight for herself and the correction of her records but also to help prevent other service members from experiencing the same.

Stephanie Schroeder has been leading the way on military retaliation & personality disorder discharge reform for years. She participated in two federal lawsuits (Cioca v Rumsfeld & Klay v Panetta) that were dismissed because rape is incident to service. She advocates for both the Stop Act (Sexual Assault Training, Oversight, and Prevention Act) sponsored by Representative Jackie Speier and the Military Justice Improvement Act sponsored by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. She represented victims of military sexual assault at the United Nations at the Geneva Conventions in Switzerland. She continues to represent Cornell University, Service Women’s Action Network, & Equality Now as an advocate before the United Nations and monitors/advises on sexual assault & retaliation policy implementation in the military. She is a board member for the United States Human Rights Network (USHRN) and the International Mechanisms Coordinating Committee Board (ICMM).

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

No affiliation with the Department of Defense or any of the Armed Forces.

Tag Archives: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel Hearings: Sexual Assault in the Military (March 24, 2021)

Senators Cruz, Gillibrand, Grassley Offer Bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act as Amendment to Defense Bill (July 2, 2020)

Gillibrand: The Military Justice Improvement Act Would Give Service Members a Justice System That Works (July 1, 2019)

Featured

Senate Armed Services Committee Members & House Armed Services Committee Members (June 21, 2019)

S. 1789: Military Justice Improvement Act of 2019 Reintroduced by Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York (June 13, 2019)

Military Rape Documentary Funded and Distributed by “Serial Predator” and Hollywood Movie Executive Harvey Weinstein

Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton Picks Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine As VP Running Mate; Kaine Blocked Military Justice Improvement Act in Historic Vote (July 22, 2016)

Vox: The War in Congress Over Rape in the Military, Explained (June 8, 2016)

NBC Washington: 62 Percent of Military Sex Assault Reports Result in Retaliation (May 18, 2015)

Retired Marine Stephanie Schroeder Fights for Servicemember’s Rights at the United Nation’s Geneva Conventions (November 11, 2014)