After Sinclair sex assault case, more calls for change in military

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair leaves the Fort Bragg Courthouse after sexual assault charges against him were dropped after he plead to lesser charges March 17, 2014 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sinclair, a former deputy commander with the 82nd Airborne Division, has admitted to an extramarital affair with a junior officer.
Davis Turner/Getty Images

Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair avoided jail time, but was fined $20,000 in a court martial sexual assault case last week.

His original charges included sexual assault, but those were dropped when he pleaded guilty to other charges. He had a three-year affair with a captain and two other relationships with subordinates.

Sinclair is believed to be the highest-ranking military officer to face a court martial over sexual assault, and critics are calling his sentence a "slap on the wrist." Meanwhile, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's bill to remove the decision to prosecute such charges from the military's chain of command was blocked by a Senate filibuster earlier this month.

While many advocates acknowledge that positive steps are being made to bring both attention and justice to this issue, they say more must be done.

On The Daily Circuit, we look back at what has changed since we discussed the issue in 2012.

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