Lawmakers urge hearing on wrongdoing by military recruiters

Leading Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee have called on Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., to hold a hearing on skyrocketing instances of wrongdoing, including sexual harassment, among military recruiters.

In a Sept. 6 letter to Hunter released Tuesday, Armed Services ranking member Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee ranking member Vic Snyder, D-Ark., argued that it is imperative for the committee to make clear that there will be "zero tolerance" for sexual harassment and assault by military recruiters.

"The conduct of our nation's military recruiters should be of utmost concern to all members of the committee because their actions are a direct reflection on our Armed Forces in communities and cities across this nation," they wrote.

The letter follows a Government Accountability Office report last month that said allegations of wrongdoing among the military's 22,000 recruiters grew by 50 percent last year over fiscal 2004 claims, while substantiated cases jumped by more than 50 percent. Criminal violations increased by more than 50 percent, GAO reported.

Skelton and Snyder urged Hunter to hold the hearing before the House adjourns for the mid-term congressional elections.