Change in Academy Legislation Assailed

Victims in a sexual assault scandal at the Air Force Academy are criticizing Rep. Joel Hefley, saying he weakened legislation signed Wednesday by President Bush that was aimed at holding academy leaders accountable.

Hefley, a Colorado Republican, had changed an amendment written earlier this month by a group of senators in response to public outcry over allegations that the academy ignored or punished dozens of victims.

The measure, included in the $80-billion spending bill for the Iraq war that the president signed Wednesday, calls for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to appoint a seven-member panel to independently investigate the scandal.

But before Congress approved the bill, Hefley had the words “accountability and responsibility” removed, so the proposed investigation would call for a “study of the policies” that allowed a hostile environment to exist at the academy north of Colorado Springs, rather than pointing to who should be held responsible.

Spokeswoman Sarah Shelden said Hefley made the change to avoid a “fire and forget” situation.

“He’s absolutely on the side of the victims,” Shelden said. “Naming names by itself is not going to change a culture that is clearly destructive and broken.”

Beth Hills, an advocate for military rape victims, called the move a “despicable watering down” of the amendment.

Hefley “doesn’t get it,” said Jessica Brakey, a former cadet who says she was forced out of the academy after being raped there in 2000. “He just added to the already uphill battle that we have in getting to the bottom of these issues.”

Rumsfeld has until May 1 to appoint the members to the panel, and a report will be due Aug. 6.