Army Sexual Assault Prosecutor Relieved : In a significant development, Brig. Gen. Warren Wells, the head sexual assault prosecutor for the Army, has been relieved of his duties. This decision stems from a 2013 email in which Wells appeared to cast doubt on sexual assault claims and downplayed the severity of assault allegations. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth cited a “loss of trust and confidence” in Wells’ ability to lead.
The email in question, was sent when Wells was a lieutenant colonel. In it, he shared a news article with subordinates regarding the relief of the US Forces Japan commander for failing to investigate a sexual assault allegation. The email expressed skepticism about the ability of commanders to make objective decisions on sexual assault allegations and criticized policymakers for being influenced by misleading statistics and one-sided information.
Wormuth’s spokesperson, Col. Randee Farrell, stated that the decision to relieve Wells was based on the 2013 email, which negatively characterized developments in sexual assault response and was dismissive of civilian control exercised by the Executive Branch and Congress.
In response, Wells confirmed sending the email and acknowledged that his “comments were inappropriate.” He clarified that his intention was to highlight the importance of defense counsel in protecting soldiers accused of wrongdoing and expressed concern that his comments not distract from the crucial work being done to prosecute special victim crimes and care for victims.
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Wells, who was nominated by Wormuth and confirmed by Congress in December 2022 as the Army’s first lead special trial counsel, played a crucial role in overseeing the establishment of the Office of the Special Trial Counsel. This office was granted exclusive authority to prosecute offenses such as murder, manslaughter, rape, sexual assault, and other serious crimes.
The Army, aiming to meet statutory requirements, has designated Army Col. Robert Rodrigues as the acting lead special trial counsel. While Wells has been reassigned within the Army staff, the incident raises questions about the military’s commitment to addressing sexual assault and maintaining trust in its leadership.
The relief of Brig. Gen. Warren Wells comes at a time when the military is intensifying efforts to combat sexual assault, with the establishment of independent military prosecutors to handle cases related to sexual assault, domestic violence, and other serious crimes. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to sexual assault or harassment in the US military during a recent address at the Reagan National Defense Forum. As the Army works towards full operationalization of the Office of the Special Trial Counsel, the incident underscores the challenges in ensuring accountability and trust in addressing sexual assault within the military ranks.