U.S. Naval Academy superintendent grilled in sex assault case
Source: Reuters
U.S. Naval Academy superintendent grilled in sex assault case
BY LACEY JOHNSON
WASHINGTON Fri Jan 24, 2014 4:11pm EST
(Reuters) - Lawyers for a U.S. Naval Academy football player accused of sexual assault grilled the school's superintendent on Friday over whether he was politically influenced to proceed with a court-martial.
President Barack Obama has vowed to curb sexual misconduct in the military, and defense attorneys for midshipman Joshua Tate argue that Superintendent Vice Admiral Michael Miller decided to go forward because of political and media pressure.
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Tate's defense attorney, Jason Ehrenberg, questioned Miller at the hearing on whether bad press about sexual assault in the military and public statements made by his superiors, including Obama, had influenced his decision.
Miller testified that he did not take any public remarks by Obama "as direct orders" and received no pressure from Capitol Hill or from Navy colleagues or superiors.
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Read more:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/24/us-usa-military-sexualassault-idUSBREA0N1NO20140124