Air Power secretary vows overview of how home violence complaints are dealt with by his department

Air Power Secretary Frank Kendall mentioned Wednesday that he has ordered a overview of his navy department’s dealing with of home violence and abuse complaints following the discharge of a damning report that accused officers of failing to deal with the disaster.

A CBS Information investigation carried out over a two-year interval discovered U.S. navy branches usually did not take motion when service members, navy spouses and companions reported they had been victims of home or sexual violence. The report cited interviews with almost 40 home violence survivors who warned of a “damaged system” that fails to guard victims or take motion in opposition to abusers.

“I’m extraordinarily troubled by the claims of inappropriate dealing with of home violence complaints highlighted in your broadcast and have directed the Division of the Air Power Inspector Normal to conduct a complete overview of these circumstances,” Kendall mentioned in a press release. 

“The overview will deal with not solely the investigation and disciplinary actions related to these circumstances, but additionally the assist supplied to the victims,” Kendall added. “There may be completely no place for sexual assault, sexual harassment or home violence within the Division of the Air Power.”

The U.S. navy has acquired roughly 100,000 complaints concerning alleged home violence since 2015, in response to CBS Information. The report famous navy officers haven’t saved complete data that will element the precise variety of complaints.

The investigative collection included interviews with a number of girls who filed home violence complaints, together with Emily Brearley, who accused her then-partner, described as a high-ranking Air Power member, of bodily abuse. Brearley mentioned she supplied proof to the Air Power’s Workplace of Particular Investigations, however officers opted to not take motion in opposition to her alleged abuser.

“It was completely horrifying to see the dearth of alignment with the proof and the testimony I had given and what was acknowledged within the report. It was an entire cover-up,” Brearley instructed the outlet. 

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Pentagon officers have taken steps to deal with sharp criticism over their previous dealing with of abuse allegations. In Could, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, mentioned he was open to adjustments that will take away navy commanders from the decision-making course of in sexual assault prosecutions.

Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed to take motion to deal with the disaster in a prolonged assertion to CBS.

“The men and women of our armed forces dedicate their lives to defending our nation, and deserve a office and residential freed from sexual assault, sexual harassment and home violence,” Austin mentioned.

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