Overhaul of military justice in the Senate falls short
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
yesterday
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate support for changing the military justice system intensified Thursday as lawmakers from both parties embraced legislation that would overhaul how the armed forces handle sexual misconduct cases. But some key Republican senators are stopping short of endorsing the measure, a sign of the challenge facing Democrats and advocates who are pushing to remove decisions about prosecuting sexual assault and other major crimes from the chain of command.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., the lead sponsor of the bill, expressed optimism that momentum for the proposal is growing after years of slow progress. She said the measure has the backing of at least two Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Joni Ernst of Iowa. But Gillibrand declined to name any other Republicans who might be considering supporting the bill, which has been introduced multiple times without success.
Several senior GOP senators are not on board, potentially denying the measure the 60 votes it would need to advance. The most vocal opponent is Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who has warned that separating commanders from the disciplinary process would be a mistake.
“I really fear what’s going to happen here,” Graham said earlier this week. He added that President Joe Biden’s administration should be given time to address the problem from within before decisions are pushed onto Congress.
However, advocates contend that the change is necessary to combat sexual assault and harassment in the military, which they say has long been underreported and poorly addressed by commanders. A Pentagon report released earlier this year showed that sexual assault in the military increased by about 37% from 2016 to 2020, with the number of assaults estimated at more than 20,000.
The bill is named for Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was murdered last year at Fort Hood, Texas, in a case that drew widespread attention and renewed calls for military justice reform. Guillen’s family members have supported the legislation, saying they believe it is necessary to protect service members and hold perpetrators accountable. The measure also has the backing of military officials such as former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Support from Collins and Ernst marked a significant shift for the Senate Armed Services Committee, where GOP resistance has blocked many sexual misconduct reforms. Ernst, a former member of the Iowa National Guard, said she believes the Pentagon has not done enough to address the problem and that she is hopeful the legislation will bring about needed changes.
Collins, a senior member of the committee, said she is still reviewing the bill and has concerns about how it would affect military readiness and disciplinary procedures. She said she is working with Gillibrand to address those issues.