A measure to remove decisions in military sexual assault cases from the chain of command was blocked Tuesday night in the Senate, NBC News reported.
Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) aligned himself with military brass when he removed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) measure to place decisions in such cases under the review of an independent prosecutor from the Defense Authorization Act. In its place, Levin inserted a proposal that would have senior officers review decisions when a military commander refuses to prosecute a sexual assault case.
Gillibrand aides told NBC News that Levin’s move was “a real setback” but the senator is expected to re-introduce the measure when the bill comes to a vote this summer.
