Washington Post: Sexual-assault charges dropped against second former Navy football player
The Washington Post reports:
Without those statements, Miller concluded, there were “no reasonable grounds to believe a crime of sexual assault was committed” by Graham, said an academy spokesman, Cmdr. John Schofield.
It was the latest reversal to a high-profile case that, for some, has come to symbolize the shortcomings of the military in handling sexual-assault cases and helped push changes by lawmakers in Washington. Congress recently passed new limits on the role of military commanders in such cases: For example, they can no longer overturn jury convictions, and decisions to decline to prosecute can trigger a “civilian review.” Those changes will not apply in this case because it was referred to court-martial before the law passed, military law experts said.
Miller’s actions have come under fire from attorneys for the defendants and for the alleged victim, who have accused him of being more interested in safeguarding his career than ensuring justice. Daugherty has ordered Miller to appear on the stand this month to answer questions from defense lawyers about his decision to go forward with courts-martial over the recommendations of his legal counsel and a military judge who heard evidence at a preliminary hearing known as an Article 32.
