UPDATE: USAF Rape Trial Halted

Yesterday, I wrote about a rape case at the USAF Academy in which a rape counselor was facing arrest for refusing to turn over her records of sessions with the victim.

Today's news: the rape trial has been called off.

A military judge on Friday halted the trial of an officer accused of raping an Air Force Academy cadet whose civilian rape counselor has refused to hand over records of their conversations.

But 1st Lt. Joseph Harding will still be tried on a charge of indecent assault against another Academy cadet, said the judge, Col. David Brash, who did not elaborate on his ruling.

Apparently, Col. Brash called the trial off after a defense motion indicating that the counselor's notes were required in order for a fair trial to take place.

Equally apparent is that the law means nothing to the United States Air Force as there is a military law preventing the usage of any communications between accusers and therapists.

Once again, this is what Harding is accused of:

Harding, a pilot trainee stationed at Columbus AFB, Miss., is accused of raping Brakey in 2000 and of committing the indecent assault in 1999. In that case, he is accused of trying to force a female cadet to touch his genitals.

The AP reporter was unable to get reaction from either the counselor or the victim at the time the report was filed.

The Air Force continues to cover up these cases instead of exposing them. Reminder: there have been 56 allegations of rape over 15 years at the USAF Academy and only one prosecution, this one. This one has been swept under the rug because a civilian had the courage to do the right thing.

[Cross-posted at BNN and VikingSpirit's.]