Mazie Hirono: “the Houston Chronicle article tells the following account: Lieutenant Helmer was stationed at Marine Barracks Washington…”

“the Houston Chronicle article tells the following account: Lieutenant Helmer was stationed at Marine Barracks Washington in 2006, just a few blocks from the Senate Chamber. One night, after she was ordered to go bar hopping with her colleagues, a superior officer called her into his office and attacked her. She remembers him slamming her head into his desk, and then she blacked out. When she woke up she was wearing her superior officer's shorts, and she knew she had been raped. Two guards found her outside crying and shaking. She asked a colonel to call an ambulance and, instead, the colonel warned her she would be charged with public intoxication and conduct unbecoming an officer if she reported the attack. When Lieutenant Helmer finally made it to a military hospital, the sexual assault victim advocate warned her, ``These cases never go anywhere.'' Lieutenant Helmer pressed her case anyway. But after many months, here is the only thing that happened. Lieutenant Helmer was charged with fraternization and conduct unbecoming an officer, and the superior officer who attacked her received no punishment. In fact, he was later promoted. This story should outrage us all. This story shows that when sexual assault occurs, the current system does not work. It is time to make fundamental changes to how sexual assault cases are handled in the military. The amendment of Senator Gillibrand would be a big step in the right direction.…”