WASHINGTON — Two former Naval Academy football players accused of raping a female midshipman at an off-campus party will face court-martial proceedings, in the latest in a string of high-profile sexual assault cases in the military that have drawn increased scrutiny from the Pentagon and Congress.
The case stems from a 2012 “yoga and toga” party near the academy in Annapolis, Md., where the woman, then a 20-year-old second-year student, arrived intoxicated and later had sex with some of the players. In grueling testimony last month during a military hearing at the Washington Navy Yard, she said she had no memory of parts of the evening and may have passed out.
The superintendent of the academy, Vice Adm. Michael H. Miller, acting on the legal advice of those who oversaw the initial hearing on the case, known as an Article 32 hearing, referred Midshipman Eric Graham and Midshipman Joshua Tate to general court-martial. Midshipman Graham is charged with abusive sexual contact and Midshipman Tate with aggravated sexual assault, and both are charged with making false official statements. Admiral Miller declined to refer charges against Midshipman Tra’ves Bush, the third player accused in the party incident.
Source: NY Times
