Senate OKs Outside Scrutiny of Air Force Academy Scandal

As several lawmakers accused military officials of a failure of leadership, the Senate took action Wednesday to force the Pentagon to accept an outside review of the sexual assault scandal at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

By voice vote, the Senate approved a measure requiring Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to name by May 1 an independent panel to review the Air Force’s response to dozens of allegations of rape, sexual assault and other sexual misconduct at the academy in the last decade.

The seven-member panel would report to President Bush, Congress and Pentagon officials within 90 days.

The measure was an amendment to a spending bill before Congress. It must be passed by the House and signed by the president before taking effect.

The Senate action was a sharp rebuke to Air Force officials, who have launched their own campaign to reform the 4,200-cadet academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

On Monday, Air Force Secretary James G. Roche told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would consider an external review, in addition to pending internal Air Force and Defense Department investigations.

But senators said they did not believe Roche was moving fast enough.

“This current crisis has tarnished the reputation of the school and cast doubt on its graduates,” Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) told the Senate. “It is time for us to take action.”

Allard and other senators also sharply criticized Roche and Gen. John P. Jumper, the Air Force chief of staff, for their handling of the academy’s outgoing leadership: Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager, the academy superintendent; and Brig. Gen. S. Taco Gilbert III, the commandant of cadets.

Dallager and Gilbert are to be replaced this spring under a shake-up announced last week. Dallager is retiring, as previously scheduled; Gilbert is moving to the Pentagon.

But Roche and Jumper refused to blame the outgoing leaders for troubles at the academy, which they say go back years. Allard said the Air Force is moving too quickly to exonerate Dallager, Gilbert and others involved.

“To make this determination before the investigation is completed is irresponsible and inappropriate,” Allard said.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said: “The secretary of the Air Force has proven to our satisfaction that he cannot and will not address this situation and the crisis at the Air Force Academy in a mature and efficient fashion. That’s what triggered this amendment.”

A spokesman for Roche, William C. Bodie, said Wednesday that the Air Force would “hold those officers charged with leading the academy accountable for failings for which they are responsible.” He said Roche would not rule out disciplinary action, pending the outcome of internal investigations.

Earlier, Bodie said that Roche was exploring the creation of an outside review of the scandal after consulting with the academy’s board of visitors -- an official body of lawmakers and other academy advisors.

Bodie said Roche wanted to move on the issue “sooner rather than later.”