header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
December 22
1905 - County buys property to build Newhall Jail (now next to city's Old Town Newhall Library) [story]
Old Newhall Jail


U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon

On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon held his 3rd Annual Women’s Conference on the campus of College of the Canyons. On Sunday, he flew to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio where 17 training instructors are under investigation for the rape and sexual assault of 42 female recruits.

In a report by The Hill newspaper, which covers the Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, McKeon expressed confidence that an internal investigation by the Air Force will be sufficient.

“Just because a few people go beyond the bounds of propriety and misuse the authority they’ve been given — a very important authority — that does not mean they can’t clean up the problem,” he said. “They’re working on it and I’m convinced going to do a great job of it,” McKeon told Hill reporter Jeremy Herb.

Nancy Parrish, President of Protect Our Defenders (POD), a human rights organization calling upon the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to conduct an investigation called (Chairman) McKeon’s statements “disheartening.”

“His statements that only a ‘few people’ are responsible at Lackland minimizes the criminal scandal. And his reasons for not opening a hearing and investigation about Lackland, because he received ‘assurances’ from top military commanders that they will do all they can so it doesn’t happen again — does not cut it,” said Parrish.

The Hill reports a meeting between McKeon and the chief of Air Education and Training Command Gen. Edward Rice, other top officials, and with 30 trainees one week from graduation “to find out how the sex scandal involving basic training instructors has affected them and their feelings about the Air Force.”

In August, Col. Glenn Palmer, who had been in charge of basic training for new Air Force recruits at the 737th training group at the Lackland base was relieved of duty.

As a result of the Air Force’s own investigation Staff Sgt. Luis Walker, a former instructor, received a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault of 10 females — many still in their teens. Walker faced 28 charges and was convicted on all of them.

At the other end of the spectrum, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Smith, 33, was sentenced to only 30 days in jail and a reduction in rank to airman first class. He was convicted of developing an intimate relationship with one female trainee and fraternizing with another.

The in-house investigation and hearings are continuing.

After rebuffing POD’s attempts to contact McKeon’s office, staffers met with them in August where they received 2,600 signatures asking for a Congressional investigation. That petition has now grown to a 15,000 signatures. For earlier reporting on the meeting, click here.

Shortly after POD met with McKeon’s office HASC had a closed-door meeting with Air Force Secretary Michael Donley. McKeon defended the committee’s work on the scandal to The Hill.

“I understand people are concerned and think we’re not doing our job,” McKeon told The Hill. “I think we are doing our job and think we’re doing it correctly. It’s very important we make sure that we don’t mess up any investigation and let somebody walk after doing the serious things they’ve been accused of.”

POD officials have decried the closed-door meeting and reiterated their request for a full, public Congressional investigation. They also expressed concerns that members of HASC have the sensitivity to pursue an investigation of rape after Congressman Todd Akin (a member of HASC) when explaining his pro-life position said, “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Akin has since been denounced by many leaders in the Republican party for his position. In response to an inquiry, McKeon’s office responded shortly after Akin’s statement to assure the public that Akin’s views will not interfere with HASC’s responsibilities.

“It will not at all impact the Committee’s ability to oversee this issue.  Rep. Akin is not on the Military Personnel Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over Lackland and other sexual assault issues.”

Fellow Republican Senator John Cornyn (member of the Senate Armed Services Committee) has taken a stronger stand on the issue than the House. He blocked (but eventually allowed) President Barack Obama’s Air Force chief of staff nominee until receiving assurances that the Air Force would deal with the history of misconduct properly and implement measures to insure it would not occur again.

The Pentagon’s own numbers report 19,000 sexual assaults per year with only 13 percent of them reported. Less than 200 per year end in prosecutions or convictions.

For an NBC Nightly news report on the issue, click here.

On Nov. 16, 2011, California Rep. Jackie Speier (12th District) introduced H.R. 3435, the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention Act – or STOP Act which would take the reporting, oversight, investigation and victim care of sexual assaults out of the hands of the military’s normal chain of command and place jurisdiction in the newly created, autonomous Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Office comprised of civilian and military experts.

McKeon’s office did not issue an official comment on the meeting at Lackland.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, Dec 20, 2024
Santa Clarita Seeks Applicants for Summer Lifeguard Jobs
The city of Santa Clarita is seeking enthusiastic individuals with a passion for swimming, exceptional customer service and community engagement to join the lifeguard team.
Friday, Dec 20, 2024
Jan. 1: California State Parks First Day Hikes
California State Parks is calling all outdoor enthusiasts to step into the new year with a breath of fresh air. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, State Parks will host its highly anticipated First Day Hikes, offering over 90 guided hikes at more than 70 of California’s most iconic and breathtaking parks.
Friday, Dec 20, 2024
Dec. 21: Residential No Burn Day in Santa Clarita Valley
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a residential No Burn Day Alert on Saturday, Dec. 21, for all those living in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1905 - County buys property to build Newhall Jail (now next to city's Old Town Newhall Library) [story]
Old Newhall Jail
1910 - Newhall (Auto) Tunnel opens, bypassing Beale's Cut [story]
Newhall Tunnel
The city of Santa Clarita is seeking enthusiastic individuals with a passion for swimming, exceptional customer service and community engagement to join the lifeguard team.
Santa Clarita Seeks Applicants for Summer Lifeguard Jobs
California State Parks is calling all outdoor enthusiasts to step into the new year with a breath of fresh air. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, State Parks will host its highly anticipated First Day Hikes, offering over 90 guided hikes at more than 70 of California’s most iconic and breathtaking parks.
Jan. 1: California State Parks First Day Hikes
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a residential No Burn Day Alert on Saturday, Dec. 21, for all those living in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley.
Dec. 21: Residential No Burn Day in Santa Clarita Valley
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is urging residents to avoid consuming or feeding to their pets raw milk due to the ongoing spread of H5 bird flu in dairy cows.
Public Health Warns Against Consuming Raw Milk
The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival is hosting a call for vendors for its return April 12 and 13, 2025.
Feb. 3: Deadline for Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival Vendors Applications
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is reminding residents to remain vigilant as the holidays approach and to use the preventive tools available to protect the county’s most vulnerable populations from COVID-19.
Protect the Most Vulnerable from COVID-19 this Holiday Season
The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley will host a free Lifeforward workshop "All About Communication" on Saturday, Jan. 18, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Valencia United Methodist Church, 25718 McBean Parkway. Valencia, CA 91355.
Jan. 18: Zonta Lifeforward Workshop ‘All About Communication’
Start the new year off with a InfluenceHER Building Transformative Mutual Mentorship meeting Tuesday, Jan. 14 at Kindred Spirits, 24510 Town Center Drive Valencia, CA 91355.
Jan. 14: InfluenceHER Building Transformative Mutual Mentorship
The Sundance Institute has unveiled the eagerly anticipated program for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, the country’s premier stage for independent cinema.
CalArtians Among Sundance 2025 Lineup
Every year at my Foster Youth Holiday Party, it seems like the presents and kids’ smiles get bigger and bigger!
Kathryn Barger | Keeping Up With Kathryn
Annett Davis, the head coach of both the women's volleyball team and the beach volleyball team at The Masters University, has decided to step down as the head coach of the women's indoor volleyball team.
TMU Coach Davis to Focus on Beach Volleyball, Hafner Hired as Indoor Coach
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced Naomi Kim, a senior at West Ranch High School, has earned the Congressional Award’s highest award: The Gold Medal.
West Ranch High’s Naomi Kim Earns Congressional Award Gold Medal
As families prepare to celebrate the holidays, the California Highway Patrol reminds everyone to prioritize safety on the road. To keep travelers safe throughout the busy holiday season, the CHP is initiating the first of two statewide Maximum Enforcement Periods this month to reduce traffic incidents by targeting unsafe driving behaviors and assisting motorists.
Dec. 24-25: CHP Maximum Enforcement, Home for the Holidays, Safety is Best Gift
The city of Santa Clarita has announced that renovations are coming to the Santa Clarita Public Library Valencia Branch. The Valencia Branch will be temporarily closed from Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, for a flooring renovation project.
Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Valencia Branch of Santa Clarita Public Library Closed for Renovation
Matias Castro a graduate of Golden Valley High School, three-time participant in the William S. Hart Union High School District Honor Band and current first-year student at University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music has been named a 2025 YoungArts winner with distinction in Jazz Alto Saxophone, the highest honor of the organization.
Matias Castro, Golden Valley High Grad, Named  2025 YoungArts Winner
There was no gold, frankincense or the anointing oil myrrh, but the hot sausage, pancakes and special gifts offered at the recent “Breakfast with Santa” held in Valencia were treats for dozens of children and their parents. It was a reminder of the meaning of this special holiday season.
Realtors Host Annual Holiday ‘Breakfast with Santa’ in Valencia
1892 - Benjamin Harrison establishes 555,520-acre San Gabriel Timberland Reserve (Angeles National Forest). First forest reserve in California, second in U.S. [story]
map
Yes I Can Unity Through Music & Education, a nonprofit organization that provides career-skills training and employment services to adults with disabilities, presented certificates of recognition to Remo Inc. and Migrate Sound for the commitment to creating career opportunities for neurodiverse talent.
Yes I Can Honors Remo Inc., Migrate Sound
The MAIN and Outpost Media has announced the premiere of The Wolves, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, thru Sunday, Jan. 26, at the MAIN located at 24266 Main St., Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
The MAIN, Outpost Media Presents The Wolves
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, which oversees College of the Canyons, swore in recently elected board members, named its new officers, received recognitions for service and set its 2025 meeting schedule at the board’s business and organizational meeting held on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
COC Board of Trustees Swears in New Members
Reflecting on this past year, there are so many things to be thankful for. Whether it is our health, happiness or the ability to live in a community as special as ours, I believe many of our residents would agree that Santa Clarita is a place where wonderful memories have been made and a unique place to call home.
Laurene Weste | What Are You Thankful For This Holiday Season?
SCVNews.com