More Hearings on Rape

The Justice Department is allowing an official to answer questions at a Congressional hearing on two other cases of rape by independent contractors and soldiers. While encouraging, this is just ANOTHER hearing and odd that Justice is ACTUALLY sending an official to Congress for once; they usually fight tooth and nail to avoid any Congressional oversight. This is difficult for me to call good news, but it is a start. Just because someone from Justice speaks before Congress, does not mean any legitimate change in policy. I fear any true Justice for these victims, let alone a criminal trial, will be lost in the back and forth negotiations between Justice, Congress, and the lawyers for the accused.

Via the Blotter:

In an apparent reversal of policy, the Justice Department will send an official to answer questions before Congress on the investigation and prosecution of alleged sex crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last December, the department declined to send an official to testify before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on law enforcement efforts to protect U.S. contractors in Iraq. The hearing featured testimony by Jamie Leigh Jones, a young Texan woman who says she was gang-raped while working for government contractor KBR in Iraq.

h/t to Constant Comment.