Gillibrand speaks out on military sexual assault – again. But this time it might be different

• The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is must-pass legislation. But what will be in it?
• Removing commanders from the decision to prosecute a sexual assault case is expected.
• Currently, a commander decides if charges are brought, who is on the jury and if a conviction stands

WASHINGTON – Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has never been closer to her decade-long goal of changing the way the military prosecutes sexual assault cases.

There’s a near certainty that commanders will no longer have the final say in prosecuting sex crimes in the military. Specially trained prosecutors would make those decisions under a bill approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee last week.

Gillibrand won approval of a measure that would go further and remove military commanders' authority to prosecute all serious crimes. She has the support of a majority of senators for that measure. A competing proposal, also in the bill and supported by the Pentagon, would limit the reform to sex crimes.

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