ACLU lawsuit: Military won’t release rape records

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have filed a federal lawsuit saying the Pentagon has failed to turn over records documenting rape and sexual harassment in the military.

The lawsuit, filed today in New Haven, Conn., says sexual assault “pervades” the military. It says tens of thousands of service members have reported some form of sexual assault, harassment or trauma in the past decade. The lawsuit says the military prosecutes few cases and often denies post-traumatic stress disorder claims related to sexual trauma.

The groups say they want more details on prosecutions, disability claims and sexual harassment complaints.

Messages were left Monday with the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, which were named in the lawsuit.