Reid Supports Gillibrand’s Military Sexual Assault Bill

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., speaks during a "Getting Women off the Sidelines" event sponsored by her campaign committee Thursday, June 2, 2011, in New York.
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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters Tuesday he’ll support legislation by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to remove the issue of sexual assault from the military chain of command.

“I’m going to support Gillibrand,” he said. “Senator [Carl] Levin knows that. People can disagree with the reasoning… But I’ve looked at it… I think [the committee] did some good stuff.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) wouldn’t say Tuesday if he supports her proposal. He said he’s still listening to the different arguments.

The issue of how to deal with sexual assault in the military has scrambled party lines, as some senators from both parties prefer a more modest reform backed by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and the Armed Services Committee.

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