PORTLAND — U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree wants the U.S. Director of National Intelligence to avoid forcing military sexual assault survivors to disclose that they have sought counseling when they fill out security clearance forms.
Director of National Security James Clapper extended the exemption to survivors of sexual assault in 2013. Pingree says the change was provisional while officials considered revising the rules.
Pingree says the counseling exemption has been successful and is important to survivors of rape in the military. She has written to Clapper that she is concerned about the possible elimination of the exemption.
Pingree says the “unacceptably high number” of sexual assaults in the military has broad consequences for survivors’ lives and their military careers. She says trauma survivors should not be impeded from seeking treatment.
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