'Abhorrent': Prison boss vexes DOJ with alleged intimidation
The Justice Department says it is gravely concerned about allegations that a high-ranking federal prison official entrusted to end sexual abuse and cover-ups at a womenโs prison may have taken steps to suppress a recent complaint about staff misconduct.
![A year after Vanessa Guillรฉnโs death, lawmakers and advocates call for Congress to pass military sexual assault reform bill](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/mWYJkbGoHnS7ShTeoJo-CtEmntk=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XRT7UO4BARCIRFCMA57KO3VSQM.jpg)
A year after Vanessa Guillรฉnโs death, lawmakers and advocates call for Congress to pass military sexual assault reform bill
A federal bill was recently reintroduced, proposing sweeping changes to the way the military investigates sexual assault and harassment allegations. Texas lawmakers are urging Congress to make it law.
![Army under fire from Congress over Fort Hood response to criminal investigations](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/vqnKIuNO5LymED8UEt7aZhkUs-Q=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SD52TURQPJH27O5H2GCPCG2GEA.jpg)
Army under fire from Congress over Fort Hood response to criminal investigations
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON โ Lawmakers expressed frustration Tuesday with how slowly improvements are being made to criminal investigations at Fort Hood, Texas, where rates of violent crime and sexual assaults are particularly high. More than two dozen Fort Hood soldiers died in 2020, including in multiple homicides and suicides. The review also concluded that the Army CID was understaffed, overwhelmed and filled with inexperienced investigators. Elder Fernandes, who was missing for more than a week last year before he was found dead about 28 miles from Fort Hood. AdAs a result of the independent review and other investigations, the Army earlier this year took action against 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood.
![The Latest: Pelosi ties rioters' actions to 'whiteness'](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/PP9kZcPEvmEtFGhU114OVDXqzfI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/U6DZGZ3S2VBJ3F25CJYXP5H2SU.jpg)
The Latest: Pelosi ties rioters' actions to 'whiteness'
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a news conference on the day after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. โIt has been an epiphany for the world to see that there are people in our country led by this president, for the moment, who have chosen their whiteness over democracy,โ Pelosi said. Pelosi says, โThe complicity, not only the complicity, the instigation of the president of United States, must and will be addressed.โ___1:25 p.m. Flight attendants have expressed concern that their flights could be carrying supporters of President Donald Trump who took part in Wednesdayโs violent protest and siege of the U.S. Capitol. ___2:25 a.m.Democrats in Congress are laying the groundwork to impeach President Donald Trump.
![Congress vows to watch Army response to Fort Hood violence](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/sBYXadKdEGxSqvXiLftZFziyhbw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CCK2FYRGSJAF3IGIQQU57CPO5U.jpg)
Congress vows to watch Army response to Fort Hood violence
Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy speaks about an investigation into Fort Hood, Texas at the Pentagon, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in Washington. A day after Army officials released an independent panel's report on chronic leadership failures and widespread violence at Fort Hood, lawmakers said they will ensure the Army makes long-delayed changes. Elder Fernandes, who was missing for more than a week before he was found dead about 28 miles from Fort Hood. Army leaders concluded that leadership failures contributed to the widespread crime problems at Fort Hood. The five-member panel spent three weeks at Fort Hood and conducted more than 2,500 interviews, including 647 in person.
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โThe militaryโs #MeToo moment:โ Fort Hood victims speak out
Members of Congress launched an investigation of Fort Hood in September after Sgt. Elder Fernandes was found dead on Aug. 25 hanging from a tree in Temple, Texas, months after reporting sexual harassment. A Fort Hood officer went with his wife to their apartment during one altercation after Buxton called for help. A Fort Hood spokesperson said they had no information on this allegation. โHow many more must die at Fort Hood for them to be held accountable?โ Lupe Guillen said.
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Final autopsy: Fort Hood soldierโs drowning was an accident
BELTON, Texas โ The July drowning of a Fort Hood soldier at lake near the U.S. Army base in Central Texas was an accident, according to a final autopsy report. Final results from the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas supported initial reports from the Bell County Sheriff's Office that Pvt. Sheriffโs deputies were called to Stillhouse Hollow Lake near Belton on July 17 just after midnight when fishermen in found a body in the water at the base of a dam. Morta is one of 28 soldiers who have died at Fort Hood this year, according to data from Fort Hood officials. Fort Hood has one of the highest rates of murder, sexual assault and harassment in the Army, Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy said in August.
![Congressional delegation holds news conference after Fort Hood visit](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/XQdnWxQFs4TPxoO-WYsXg_3lJqs=/640x360/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/F7EVITZFRZCRVF3G5THQNEWJ24.jpg)
Congressional delegation holds news conference after Fort Hood visit
(The livesteam has ended. Check back soon for another livestream from KSAT.com). U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) will be joining U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, and a delegation of six other representatives for a press conference after visiting Fort Hood to perform their oversight role in the wake of a number of concerning events involving the military installation, including the murder of Vanessa Guillen.
![Texas soldier's slaying inspires bid to expand military code](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/4Vs9shzcH4YDDTsni1HxXb3cMW0=/1600x1158/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I762L4FGMNA4HOZY5W35FH3ZTI.jpg)
Texas soldier's slaying inspires bid to expand military code
Reps. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California, and Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, said their bill would make sexual harassment a crime within the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The bill is named I Am Vanessa Guillen after the hashtag that was used by military sexual assault survivors to denounce their experiences on social media when Spc. According to Natalie Khawam, who represents the Guillen family, Guillen told her mother that a soldier of a higher rank walked in and watched her while she was showering. A coalition of military sexual assault survivors along with Democratic and Republican members of Congress joined Speier, Mullin, the Guillen family and Natalie Khawam, who represents the Guillen family, to present the bill at the U.S. Capitol. Officials said they had evidence that Guillen did face other kinds of harassment by other people at the Central Texas base.
![Congress investigates Fort Hood following soldier deaths](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/jOOVSCMuGxe_FjRD_L9DpqevErI=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HM5PRUYD5RAMPJFHBOTXV3NYX4.jpg)
Congress investigates Fort Hood following soldier deaths
AUSTIN, Texas Congress will launch an investigation into sexual assault, disappearances, deaths and the leaderships response at Fort Hood after 28 soldiers stationed at the U.S. Army base in Texas died this year, two subcommittee leaders announced Tuesday. The members of Congress cited the deaths of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who according to federal officials was bludgeoned to death at the Texas base in April by a fellow soldier, and Pvt. Natalie Khawam, who represents the Guillen family, said she is thankful Congress has agreed to their demands to investigate. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
![Women say they will fight sexism, 'ugly' attacks on Harris](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/NwzypwttJ1GhqCWkxOaeZmYl4-4=/1600x1068/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QNPZU2CNXNHLZPTEWNQJT43OTM.jpg)
Women say they will fight sexism, 'ugly' attacks on Harris
Women say they will fight sexism, 'ugly' attacks on HarrisPublished: August 11, 2020, 11:15 pmFILE - In this March 9, 2020, file photo, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden at Renaissance High School in Detroit. Before Joe Biden named Harris his running mate, womens groups were readying a campaign of their own: Shutting down sexist coverage and disinformation about a vice presidential nominee they say is headed for months of false smears and brutal attacks from internet haters. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Volunteers focus on families affected by zero tolerance policy
McALLEN, Texas โ A group of volunteers from California are trying to help families recently affected by the zero tolerance policy. This past weekend, a dozen volunteers from San Mateo, California accompanied U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier to McAllen, Texas, after hearing about the separation of families. Related: Group goes on hunger strike to protest immigrant families separatedThe volunteers worked and collected needed items: a total of 21 bags and 50 boxes, all before traveling to the Rio Grande Valley. But we know we can't do that so this is the next best thing we can provide," Rey said. "We are tired of wringing our hands and just not sleeping at night," Rey said.