Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washingtonpost.com
August 13, 2008
By Kimberly Hefling, Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The military's sexual assault prevention coordinator, barred by Defense officials from testifying before Congress last month, has gotten permission to appear at a hearing on the topic, a House committee said Wednesday.
Defense officials notified the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has agreed to make Kaye Whitley, director of the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, available to testify, the panel said in a statement.
Whitley did not appear at a hearing on sexual assault in the military on July 31 after she was told by her superiors not to do so, the committee said.
On Tuesday, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the Oversight chairman, and others sent a letter to Gates seeking compliance with a subpoena it issued seeking Whitley's testimony.
Cynthia Smith, a DOD spokeswoman, said in an e-mail Wednesday that it is "inappropriate" to question Whitley about the program when Michael Dominguez, the principal deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, is available and he's the decision maker for the program. Dominguez testified at the July 31 hearing that he had instructed Whitley not to testify.
Smith said Gates would respond directly to the letter. Smith did not respond to questions about whether Whitley will now appear.
At the hearing, a report from the General Accounting Office was released that said the Defense Department and Coast Guard have established policies to prevent and respond to sexual assaults, but the implementation of it programs is hindered by factors such as the fact that not all commanders support them.
It also said the military services have not provided sufficient data to facilitate oversight.
August 13, 2008
By Kimberly Hefling, Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The military's sexual assault prevention coordinator, barred by Defense officials from testifying before Congress last month, has gotten permission to appear at a hearing on the topic, a House committee said Wednesday.
Defense officials notified the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has agreed to make Kaye Whitley, director of the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, available to testify, the panel said in a statement.
Whitley did not appear at a hearing on sexual assault in the military on July 31 after she was told by her superiors not to do so, the committee said.
On Tuesday, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the Oversight chairman, and others sent a letter to Gates seeking compliance with a subpoena it issued seeking Whitley's testimony.
Cynthia Smith, a DOD spokeswoman, said in an e-mail Wednesday that it is "inappropriate" to question Whitley about the program when Michael Dominguez, the principal deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, is available and he's the decision maker for the program. Dominguez testified at the July 31 hearing that he had instructed Whitley not to testify.
Smith said Gates would respond directly to the letter. Smith did not respond to questions about whether Whitley will now appear.
At the hearing, a report from the General Accounting Office was released that said the Defense Department and Coast Guard have established policies to prevent and respond to sexual assaults, but the implementation of it programs is hindered by factors such as the fact that not all commanders support them.
It also said the military services have not provided sufficient data to facilitate oversight.