To: Chuck Hagel, United States Secretary of Defense

Secretary Hagel: Fix the problem of military sexual assault

Secretary Hagel, you promised to institute a zero tolerance policy on violence against women; now you must fix the problem of military sexual assault. To begin, we urge you to immediately review the egregious decision of Air Force Lieutenant General Craig Franklin to overturn the sexual assault conviction of Lieutenant Colonel James Wilkerson by a military jury. We urge you to overturn the dismissal of the case and work with Congress to take immediate steps to restrict Convening Authorities from unilaterally dismissing military court decisions.”

Why is this important?

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel pledged to stop the estimated 19,000 military sexual assaults perpetrated every year. This epidemic of military sexual assault can and must be stopped. One of the few cases actually to reach a jury trial has been unilaterally thrown out by a lone general. As a former sexual assault prosecutor I am outraged by this travesty of justice which harms the victim and besmirches the millions who serve with honor.