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Clinton slams sex assault prevention efforts

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has called for an investigation into the Pentagon program that aims to prevent and respond to sexual assaults, expressing particular concern that such assaults may be on the rise and citing the failure of the defense official who runs that program to appear before Congress last week.

“I am deeply concerned by the Pentagon’s inadequate response to sexual assaults on our troops and the administration’s unwillingness to answer questions about this important issue,” Clinton said in an Aug. 6 letter to Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Service members who brave so many dangers while defending our nation deserve better.”

Clinton asked Levin to hold an oversight hearing that would “allow us to identify the necessary reforms to protect our service members from sexual assault.”

During a July 31 hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s national security and foreign affairs panel, the Government Accountability Office released a report stating that while the military response to sexual assault is improving, efforts are hindered by such factors as inadequate guidance on implementation in deployed and joint environments, part-time program coordinators filling the job as a collateral duty, and a failure by some commanders to support the program.

In addition, Clinton said the GAO found that nearly half of those who alleged sexual assaults at the 14 installations visited by auditors did not report the assaults for reasons ranging from fear of harassment to a sense that the command would be unresponsive.

At that same hearing, the Pentagon’s No. 2 personnel and readiness official, Michael Dominguez, admitted that he ordered the official who oversees the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Kaye Whitley, not to appear to testify. Dominguez said he wanted to make clear that he and his boss, David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, were the senior officials accountable for the program. Dominguez was then dismissed from the hearing by Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., the subcommittee chairman.

Clinton said she was “deeply disturbed” by the GAO’s findings.

“The lack of trust evidenced by this non-reporting highlights the GAO’s preliminary findings that DoD’s current policy regarding sexual assault is far from comprehensive,” Clinton wrote to Levin. “According to the GAO, required training on sexual assault prevention and response has not been uniformly implemented, and many service members report that they would not know how to report a sexual assault. It does not appear that all commanders support the goals of the program, and some have discouraged awareness efforts.

“In addition, the GAO testimony noted DoD has failed to provide adequate guidance on implementation of sexual assault prevention and response programs in deployed or joint environments, leaving many service members vulnerable in situations where the risks for sexual assault can be heightened,” Clinton wrote. “Finally, the GAO concluded that DoD does not have adequate mental health resources to provide critically needed outreach and treatment to victims of sexual assault.

“The members of our military are taking enormous risks upon themselves to protect our country,” Clinton said. “We must ensure that they are not also facing unnecessary risks of sexual assault from within their own ranks.”