Pentagon review panel recommends taking sexual assault investigations out of commanders’ hands

A Pentagon commission on sexual assault in the military is recommending that independent authorities decide whether to prosecute service members in sexual assault cases instead of commanders, a senior defense official told CNN. If adopted, the change would mark a significant departure from how the military handles sexual assault, which the Pentagon has argued for years should be treated within the chain of command.A Pentagon commission on sexual assault in the military is recommending that independent authorities decide whether to prosecute service members in sexual assault cases instead of commanders, a senior defense official told CNN. If adopted, the change would mark a significant departure from how the military handles sexual assault, which the Pentagon has argued for years should be treated within the chain of command.