General’s court-martial could shape the future of military justice system

Washington Post ^ | 3/3/2014 | Craig Whitlock

[markomalley]

A sordid account involving illicit sex in uniform will be aired this week in an austere courtroom at Fort Bragg, N.C., and the results could tip the scales in a high-stakes debate in Congress over the future of the military justice system.

The defendant, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair, is accused of carrying on a long affair with a junior officer and sexually assaulting her on two occasions, among other crimes. He is only the third Army general to face court-martial in more than a half-century.

But after two years of investigation and preparation, the prosecution is in disarray.

The Army’s lead trial counsel, Lt. Col. William Helixon, abruptly stepped down last month after confiding to superiors and the general’s defense team that he had qualms about the case. The Army scrambled to replace him, attributing his departure to “personal reasons” and saying in court papers that he was in “a state of extreme emotional distress.”

Meanwhile, the general’s lover-turned-accuser — an Army captain 17 years his junior — faces lingering questions about her credibility. Although she has testified that Sinclair twice forced her to perform oral sex against her will in Afghanistan, she has been unable to recall the exact dates and has given conflicting accounts to investigators and colleagues.

[markomalley]

Or, alternatively, is he being purged and this is to be his show trial?

[ConorMacNessa]

"General’s court-martial could shape the future of military justice system"

Another pretext for taking the administration of military justice out of the hands of the military and cashiering a senior officer - all on the flimsy evidence, conflicting statements and outright lies of a former lover.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[FreedomPoster]

>>she has been unable to recall the exact dates and has given conflicting accounts to investigators and colleagues.

This sounds as bogus as many of the college date rape cases.

[Birdsbane]

Vindictive women lie to punish not seek justice...

[Parley Baer]

Read this and the name Clinton immediately popped up in my mind. Can’t understand why. Hahahaha

[yldstrk]

or to cover something else up

[Forgotten Amendments]

Does The Mondale Act of 1974 apply here? That’s what enabled the sexual witch hunts that are going on to this day in civilian courts.

[Repeal The 17th]

Sexual relations with one under their command?
Hell, the commander in chief himself got off easier back in the 90’s.

[Gay State Conservative]

I worked for 20 years in the ER of a large hospital located in a major city.During that time hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of women presented to our ER stating they had been raped.Our nursing staff,as well as medical staff,were highly trained in treating these patients as well as methods to obtain evidence for prosecutors.I would hear the nurses who were treating a particular patient talking as they sat and wrote their notes after having evaluated,offered treatment and emotional support to them.In the large majority of patients they'd say things like "poor girl/woman" and "she was badly injured".But once in a while you'd hear them say things like "things don't add up here" or "she's lying".And these are experienced nurses...all but one of whom were female.

This experience suggests to me that while it's rare there *are* women who are capable of falsely claiming rape.

[KrisKrinkle]

A married brigadier general having an affair with a captain. There’s quite a power differential there.

Even if he didn’t commit assault, he probably should be charged with “conduct unbecoming” and or “conduct contrary to good order and discipline”. It’s been awhile since I looked, but last I knew those were still offenses under the Uniform Code Of Military Justice.

[centurion316]

Sinclair should be cashiered because he was stupid enough to have sex with a subordinate. Gone, bye, bye. End of career.

However, the sexual assault charges are bogus. The Captain knew what she was doing and a little oral sex was her ticket to the fast track. When that turned out to be a false hope, she turned vindictive.

When Kirstin Glillibrand and here fellow travelers in the feminist wing of the Democrat party start running the military as they are now, we are in deep, deep trouble. This have become political theater and it may well cripple the military.

[Birdsbane]

One of my former shipmates, 4 Star Admiral Richard C Macke, made a similar mistake, plus shot his mouth off over a rape incident, was vindictively targeted by a Marine subordinate when she caught wind of a more comely female, also subordinate, whom he was also involved with. He was forced to resign. Fortunately for him, he retained his rank and retirement benefits.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_C._Macke

http://articles.latimes.com/1995-11-18/news/mn-4681_1_richard-c-macke

http://www.hackworth.com/12mar96.html

[snoringbear]

“This sounds as bogus as many of the college date rape cases.”

Well, the forced blow jobs may or may not be true. But, sleeping with the hired help will get you fired in the military and civilian world.

[lightman]

This experience suggests to me that while it's rare there *are* women who are capable of falsely claiming rape.

If false accusation weren't a problem it wouldn't be included in the 10 Commandments.

[The_Republic_Of_Maine]

An open letter to Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair;

General fist and foremost state that it was a boy, not a girl, then make sure you are registered as a democrat and declare your candidacy for president as a Clinton sex clone.

All will be well, you may even get another star before the nomination.

< /sarcasm>

[Gay State Conservative]

If false accusation weren't a problem it wouldn't be included in the 10 Commandments

I suspect that that's true.But I think we all know that there are those in this country (and elsewhere) who swear that all rape allegations are false while others swear that all such allegations are true.

[RIghtwardHo]

BS. I prosecuted MANY a sexual assault, rape case etc. That is VERY typical. It would ring odd if she gave exact and consistent information. For any crime over time, that is a huge warning flag.

[lightman]

I’ve been around too many libtards/feminazi who honestly believe that “victims never lie”.

They do. Ask any beat cop.

[ConorMacNessa]

I can't condone the conduct of any senior officer who has an affair with a subordinate - not only on moral grounds, but for reasons of discipline and operational effectiveness.

I do not, however, think that this case or any other case I've heard of justifies taking jurisdiction over sexual assaults and other "major crimes" away from the military.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[OneWingedShark]

It would ring odd if she gave exact and consistent information. For any crime over time, that is a huge warning flag.

Unless, you know, she kept a diary or journal of events.