In the third case of sexual misconduct in the military in the past couple of months Army Sgt. Michael McClendon is accused of planting a hidden camera in the showers and locker rooms at West Point to record female cadets. Pentagon officials have relieved him of his duties and transferred him to Fort Drum, an army base in northern New York.
McClendon’s suspension follows two cases of other men in charge of sexual assault prevention in the military being accused of assaults themselves.
“Obviously he’s an idiot,” said Colonel Jack Jacobs, a Medal of Honor recipient and West Point instructor, on Jansing & Co. Thursday.
Jacobs said there are a number of factors that can contribute to alleged cases like this one, including: lack of supervision, a lack of command emphasis, and complacency.
“I think when you have these cases over and over again and there’s no response and there’s no accountability for these kinds of rapes and crimes it allows the culture to continue,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said on NBC’s Today Thursday.
Former Army Specialist BriGette McCoy, who was raped while she was in the service and testified before Congress, talked openly about sexual assault in the military.
“I think this culture has been ongoing for a while and what’s happening now is just that we’re starting to see actually what’s going on,” McCoy said on Jansing & Co.
Kristin Donnelly