Released by U.S. Congressman Brian Mast’s Office …
Supreme Court To Hear Harmony Allen’s Case Regarding Military Rape Loophole
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today filed an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in support of Port St. Lucie veteran Harmony Allen. This filing comes following the Supreme Court’s November decision grant certiorari in United States v. Collins, which is the case involving Allen that allowed a convicted military rapist to be freed from jail on a misconstrued technicality.
“Harmony Allen has been relentless in her fight for justice to hold her rapist accountable for the crimes he committed, and I am proud to support her effort. By filing today’s amicus brief to the Supreme Court, we are doubling down on our efforts to demonstrate just how absurd the decision to free Harmony’s rapist was, and taking the next step to ensure this never happens again,” Rep. Mast said. “I’m hopeful the Court will see this heinous crime for what it is and overturn this massive miscarriage of justice once and for all.”
Rep. Mast remains committed to enforcing Congress’ long-standing judgement that sexual violence has no place in the military and that no statute of limitations bars it prosecution. Today’s filing seeks to defend Congress’ decades-old policy of requiring punishment for rape in the military no matter how long ago the offense occurred. The Supreme Court is expected to hear Allen’s case in April 2020.
Rep. Mast was joined in the filing of the amicus brief by Representatives Ted Yoho (FL-03), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Jim Baird (IN-04), Gil Cisneros (CA-39), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Denny Heck (WA-10), Kendra Horn (OK-05), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), Jackie Speier (CA-14) and Haley Stevens (MI-11).
The amicus brief is attached.
BACKGROUND
Harmony Allen was raped during her third month in the Air Force by her instructor. Despite being found guilty and sentenced to jail time, the instructor was subsequently freed due to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces misinterpreting the Congressionally-mandated statute of limitations. In April, Rep. Mast introduced legislation with Allen named Harmony’s Law. The bill would help prevent hundreds of rapists—who were convicted and found guilty of rape in the military—from being freed from jail on a misconstrued technicality.