Three female Democratic senators are pushing the Pentagon for more transparency on child sex abuse cases in the military, following a recent report highlighting the prevalence of such cases.
Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) sent Defense Secretary Ashton Carter a letter Tuesday urging him to reform the military judicial system "so that it is transparent and accountable."
According to a recent Associated Press report, almost a third of inmates in the military's prison network were charged with sex crimes involving children — ranging from viewing and producing child pornography to sexual assault and rape.
The report also detailed the lack of transparency and accessibility in military criminal proceedings that prevents the public from knowing the full scope of crimes committed by service members.
For example, the AP investigation also found that the Pentagon reduced the sentences of several of the alleged child sex offenders through undisclosed pre-trial agreements.