US air force victim of sexual assault facing 'capricious' prosecution
The death threats began again shortly after Lieutenant Adam Cohen, a combat systems engineer in the US air force, returned from Afghanistan in October 2011. The messages, littered with obscenities and urging him to take his own life, were linked, he believes, to an alleged rape he had not reported from years earlier.
But when Cohen, 29, reported the threats and the alleged sexual assault to his chain of command, he found himself under investigation.
On Monday, in a turn of events that has been called into question by two senators, advocates groups and the special victims counsel the air force employed to help him, Cohen faces a court martial, accused of multiple charges.
This is reminiscent of the treatment of the woman student at the Naval Academy who reported a sexual assault by a football star. It also appears to have some hang overs from DADT. The military culture is one of power and control and there is a built in assumption that rank has privileges that are more important than the rights of the people below them.
In an email, Major Michael Meridith, director of public affairs at the 18th air force, said: "The air force takes all allegations of offenses against its members very seriously and we investigate each one, particularly issues such as sexual assault, harassment, and stalking."
He said the air force began an investigation into Cohen's allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate emails in November 2011. "During this investigation, the air force came across evidence that led them to suspect Lieutenant Cohen of the crimes for which he is now charged."
The charges against Cohen included "multiple violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including military offenses akin to federal wiretapping crimes, criminal sexual harassment, misleading investigators, willfully disobeying a lawful order and fraternization."
They just happened to stumble across these heinous crimes.