***STATEMENT *** Sweeping Military Justice Reform to Be Added to Annual Defense Bill
Washington, DC – Yesterday, the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Senator Reed, adopted the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act...
***STATEMENT*** Congresswoman Speier Introduces the Vanessa Guillén Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act; Joins Forces with Senator Gillibrand and Speaker Pelosi
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, and Representative Michael R....
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS APPLAUDS PENTAGON’S NEW CIVILIAN-LED COMMISSION ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT
Washington, DC – Today, the Pentagon announced the formation of a civilian-led commission to address the epidemic of military sexual assault. The...
***STATEMENT*** SURVIVOR WHO HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT IN VIRAL TIKTOK VIDEO RELEASES OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Updated March 3, 2021 Washington, DC – Last Friday, a TikTok video in which a distraught Marine expresses her grief after finding out the servicemember...
***STATEMENT*** NEW RAND REPORT FINDS ODDS OF LEAVING THE MILITARY DOUBLE AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT
Washington, DC – The Rand Corporation has released a new report that found sexual assaults and harassment in a single year were associated with...
***STATEMENT*** SUPREME COURT RULES MILITARY RAPE CASES HAVE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN 8-0 VERDICT
Washington, DC –Today, in a 8-0 decision regarding U.S. v Briggs, the United States Supreme Court voted that a five-year statute of limitations does not...
***DECLARACIÓN*** LA INVESTIGACIÓN DE FORT HOOD ENCUENTRA UNA CULTURA “PERMISIVA” DE AGRESIÓN Y ACOSO SEXUAL; 14 LÍDERES DEL EJÉRCITO DESPEDIDOS O SUSPENDIDOS
Washington, DC – Hoy, una investigación independiente sobre una serie de muertes en Fort Hood en los últimos meses, incluido...
***STATEMENT*** FT. HOOD INVESTIGATION FINDS “PERMISSIVE” CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT; 14 ARMY LEADERS FIRED OR SUSPENDED
Washington, DC – Today, an independent investigation into a number of deaths at Fort Hood in recent months, including the tragic murder of Vanessa Guillén,...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS FILES AMICUS BRIEF BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN THE FERES DOCTRINE; PROVIDE PATH TO JUSTICE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the national organization dedicated to ending the epidemic of sexual assault and racial disparity in the...
*** PRESS RELEASE *** Protect Our Defenders & Military Sexual Assault Survivors Announce Launch of 2020 Senate Candidate Pledge to Help End Crisis of Military Sexual Assault
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the only national organization solely dedicated to ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in...
***DECLARACIÓN*** CONGRESO PRESENTA EL PROYECTO DE LEY BIPARTDISTA YO SOY VANESSA GUILLÉN PARA TRANSFORMAR LA RESPUESTA DE LOS MILITARES A LA VIOLENCIA SEXUAL Y A LOS MIEMBROS DESAPARECIDOS
Washington, DC – Hoy, la congresista Jackie Speier, presidenta del Subcomité de Personal Militar de los Servicios Armados de la...
***STATEMENT*** CONGRESS INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN I AM VANESSA GUILLÉN ACT TO TRANSFORM MILITARY’S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND MISSING SERVICEMEMBERS
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan I Am Vanessa...
Speier, Smith, Gillibrand, Reed Call for GAO Review of Procedures to Respond to Missing Servicemembers
Washington, D.C. – This morning, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel; Congressman Adam Smith...
Congresswoman Jackie Speier to Chair First Congressional Hearing on Sexual Harassment Suffered by SPC Vanessa Guillén, Other Servicemembers at Fort Hood
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, will convene the first U.S....
Following Disappearance and Murder of Vanessa Guillén, Gillibrand Offers Amendment to Review Military’s Missing Person Investigation Procedures
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, offered an...
Chair Speier’s Amendments to Address Military Sexual Assault and Harassment and Missing Persons Cases in Honor of SPC Vanessa Guillén Pass in FY21 NDAA
Washington, DC – Two amendments introduced by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, to...
*** PRESS RELEASE *** FIVE YEAR LEGAL BATTLE LEADS TO JUSTICE FOR MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR AND PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CLIENT; TWO STAR GENERAL PLEADS GUILTY
Washington, DC – Today, in Prince William County Virginia Circuit Court, Major General James Grazioplene pled guilty to felonious aggravated sexual battery....
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS APPLAUDS REP. SPEIER’S CALL FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MILITARY
Washington, DC – On the heels of Protect Our Defenders’ (POD) recently released report on “Racial Disparities in Military Justice,...
***STATEMENT*** AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF RACIAL DISPARITIES AFTER PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
Washington, DC – Today, the Department of the Air Force Inspector General announced it will independently review the Air Force’s record on racial disparities....
***PRESS RELEASE*** AIR FORCE CAUGHT IN COVER UP, REPEATEDLY CONCEALED RECORDS OF RACIAL DISPARITIES
Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Defenders (POD) released a new report revealing the Air Force has attempted to cover up its data...
*** STATEMENT *** VP BIDEN SUPPORTS EMPOWERING INDEPENDENT PROSECUTORS AS MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS SURGE
Washington, DC – Today, the Pentagon released its Annual Report on Sexual Assault and Prevention (SAPR) in the Military a day after former...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders & Military Sexual Assault Survivors Announce Launch of 2020 Presidential Candidate Pledge to Help End Crisis of Military Sexual Assault
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the only national organization solely dedicated to ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault...
***STATEMENT*** IN RESPONSE TO GROUNDBREAKING PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RACIAL DISPARITY REPORT, CONGRESS MANDATES PENTAGON TRACK RACE, ETHNICITY, AND GENDER OF COURTS-MARTIALS
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, the Senate signed the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The final NDAA contains a number of...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS FILES AMICUS BRIEF BEFORE SUPREME COURT TO CLOSE LEGAL LOOPHOLE SETTING ACCUSED MILITARY RAPISTS FREE
Washington, DC – Today, Protect Our Defenders (POD) joined rape survivor and Air Force veteran Harmony Allen in filing an amicus curia brief...
***STATEMENT*** SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW LEGAL LOOPHOLE SETTING ACCUSED MILITARY RAPISTS FREE
Washington, DC – The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Friday that it would hear an appeal from the Justice Department to review a military...
***STATEMENT*** NEW PENTAGON REPORT FINDS SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER THAN COMBAT
Washington DC – On Monday, the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report that determined sexual...
***STATEMENT*** AIR FORCE MISLEADS SENATORS AHEAD OF GEN. HYTEN CONFIRMATION HEARING BY CONTRADICTING FINDINGS OF ITS INVESTIGATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2019 Contact: Brian Purchia, 202.253.4330, brian@protectourdefenders.com ***STATEMENT*** AIR FORCE MISLEADS SENATORS AHEAD OF GEN. HYTEN...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON CONGRESS TO PASS MJIA & REFORM BROKEN MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM
June 13, 2019 Contact: Brian Purchia, 202.253.4330, brian@protectourdefenders.com ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON CONGRESS TO PASS MJIA & REFORM...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS PRESIDENT COL DON CHRISTENSEN (RET.) TO CALL FOR PENTAGON TO EMPOWER PROSECUTORS, RATHER THAN COMMANDERS, WITH THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2019 Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee will hold a...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS PRESIDENT COL DON CHRISTENSEN (RET.) CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT PROSECUTION OF MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2019 Washington, D.C. — Today, the United States Senate Armed Services Committee (watch live here)...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS PRESIDENT COL DON CHRISTENSEN (RET.) CALLS ON PENTAGON TO EMPOWER MILITARY PROSECUTORS OR TURN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES TO CIVILIAN JUSTICE SYSTEMS AT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2019 Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee (watch live here)...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARING AFTER REPORT SHOWS 47% INCREASE IN MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2019 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARING AFTER REPORT SHOWS 47% INCREASE IN...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS SAYS DELAYED PENTAGON REPORT PUT TROOPS AND COMMUNITIES NEAR BASES AT RISK FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 21, 2018 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS SAYS DELAYED PENTAGON REPORT PUT TROOPS AND COMMUNITIES NEAR BASES...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY TO IMMEDIATELY REVIEW CLAIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS THAT WERE WRONGLY DENIED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2018 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY TO IMMEDIATELY REVIEW CLAIMS OF...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders Launches National Law Center to Provide Free Legal Services to Military Sexual Assault Survivors and Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 4, 2018 ***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders Launches National Law Center to Provide Free Legal Services...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MAKE CRITICAL REFORMS TO THEIR TREATMENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2018 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MAKE CRITICAL...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders Responds to Senators Blocking Vote to Protect Sexual Assault Victims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 13, 2018 ***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders Responds to Senators Blocking Vote to Protect Sexual Assault...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders Named ‘One of the Best’ Nonprofits by the Catalogue for Philanthropy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2018 ***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders Named ‘One of the Best’ Nonprofits by the Catalogue...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO PENTAGON REPORT ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2018 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO PENTAGON REPORT ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Veterans Groups Sue VA For Data on Bias, Sexism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2018 ***PRESS RELEASE*** Veterans Groups Sue VA For Data on Bias, Sexism After Evidence Revealed...
***STATEMENT*** Former Head of Marines Sexual Assault and Prevention Unit and Protect Our Defenders CEO Col Scott Jensen Responds to Department of Defense Policy on Harassment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 12, 2018 ***STATEMENT*** Former Head of Marines Sexual Assault and Prevention Unit and Protect Our Defenders...
***STATEMENT*** Former Head of Marines Sexual Assault and Prevention Unit and Protect Our Defenders CEO Col Scott Jensen Responds to White House Chief of Staff Defense of Domestic Abusers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 9, 2018 Former Head of Marines Sexual Assault and Prevention Unit and Protect Our Defenders CEO...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Former Head of Marines Sexual Assault and Prevention Unit Joins Protect Our Defenders as CEO In Response to Marines United Scandal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2018 FORMER HEAD OF MARINES SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PREVENTION UNIT JOINS PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS AS...
***PRESS RELEASE*** VETS GROUPS SUE MILITARY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT RECORDS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2017 ***PRESS RELEASE*** VETS GROUPS SUE MILITARY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT RECORDS Military Refuses to Disclose...
***STATEMENT*** Protect Our Defenders Responds to CBS Investigation of Sexual Assault at Air Force Academy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2017 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO CBS INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT...
*** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS JOINS SENATOR GILLIBRAND, SURVIVORS, AND ACTIVISTS TO DEMAND ACTION ON MILITARY JUSTICE REFORMS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2017 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS JOINS SENATOR GILLIBRAND, SURVIVORS, AND ACTIVISTS TO DEMAND...
Protect Our Defenders Joins “Blood Stripe” Filmmakers for Screening and Q&A
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2017 ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS JOINS “BLOOD STRIPE” FILMMAKERS FOR SCREENING AND Q&A ON...
*** STATEMENT *** Protect Our Defenders Applauds Senator Gillibrand’s Efforts to Reform the Military Justice System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2017 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS APPLAUDS SENATOR GILLIBRAND’S EFFORTS TO REFORM THE MILITARY...
***STATEMENT*** Congress Demands Answers on Substantial and Persistent Racial Disparities in US Military Justice System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 14, 2017 *** STATEMENT *** CONGRESS DEMANDS ANSWERS ON SUBSTANTIAL AND PERSISTENT RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THE...
***STATEMENT*** Protect Our Defenders Supports New Bill to Close “Revenge Porn” Loophole
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2017 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS SUPPORTS NEW BILL TO CLOSE “REVENGE PORN” LOOPHOLE...