nprnews_____ = ||| lubuntu at wor2 670N|||Defense Secretary Says He’ll Support Removing Sexual Offense Cases From Commanders||| kickerpage = |||no kicker pagenpr for NPRNEWS||| summarynpr = |||Lloyd Austin endorses removing the prosecution of sexual assaults and related crimes from the military chain of command — a shift that runs against the Pentagon’s position.

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin appears at a Senate hearing earlier this month. On Tuesday, he said he will support long-debated changes to the military justice system that would remove decisions on prosecuting sexual assault cases from military commanders.

Andrew Harnik/AP

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Andrew Harnik/AP

National Security

Defense Secretary Says He’ll Support Removing Sexual Offense Cases From Commanders

Lloyd Austin endorses removing the prosecution of sexual assaults and related crimes from the military chain of command — a shift that runs against the Pentagon’s position.