Lt General Craig A. Franklin, a U.S. Air Force Commander, improperly overruled a military court jury’s decision that found Lt. Colonel James Wilkerson guilty of sexually assaulting his subordinate, a woman service member who serves in the Air Force as a physician’s assistant. The assault occurred while the victim lay sleeping.
Wilkerson was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to a year in jail, dismissal from the air force, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. The prosecutor said that Wilkerson had shown hubris and recklessness by assaulting the woman with his wife and young son sleeping under the same roof.
As Commander in Chief, President Obama has the authority to dismiss Lt. General Franklin for his poor command decision, and he should do so immediately.