Dems blast Air Guard for dismissing whistleblower

Posted at 4:45 p.m. on November 20, 2019 The Brillion News MADISON – Eleven state representatives and three state senators, all Democrats, are blasting the Wisconsin National Guard (WNG) over the discharge of a Wisconsin Air National Guard sergeant who was a whistleblower exposing at least six cases of sexual assault or sexual harassment targeting women in the 115th Fighter Wing’s security squadron. A letter to Major General Donald Dunbar, Adjutant General of the WNG, says the lawmakers have “grave concerns” about the discharge of Master Sgt. Jay Ellis. The letter said Ellis’ concerns led U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, to seek a federal investigation into sexual misconduct within the WNG and a review of how the state Guard investigates allegations of sexual misconduct. “We have seen a disturbing trend of sexual assault and sexual harassment perpetuated throughout the U.S. military for years,” the letter reads. It said the WNG received 52 reports of sexual assaults between 2013 and 2017. The letter calls on the WNG “to proceed with whatever actions necessary to reverse the decision to discharge Sgt. Ellis.” Ellis has a retaliation complaint against the Wisconsin National Guard for the treatment he received after sounding the alarm. “Sgt. Ellis should be recognized as a hero for exposing alleged acts of sexual misconduct happening in our own government rather than heing discharged and denied retirement benefits after many years of military service,” the letter said. “These disturbing actions are unacceptable.” The letter was also addressed to General Joseph Lengyel, chief of the Pentagon’s National Guard Bureau/ Dems blast Air Guard for dismissing whistleblower The Brillion News MADISON – Eleven state representatives and three state senators, all Democrats, are blasting the Wisconsin National Guard (WNG) over the discharge of a Wisconsin Air National Guard sergeant who was a whistleblower exposing at least sic cases of sexual assault or sexual harassment targeting women in the 115th Fighter Wing’s security squadron. A letter to Major General Donald Dunbar, Adjutant General of the WNG, says the lawmakers have “grave concerns” about the discharge of Master Sgt. Jay Ellis. The letter said Ellis’ concerns led U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, to seek a federal investigation into sexual misconduct within the WNG and a review of how the state Guard investigates allegations of sexual misconduct. “We have seen a disturbing trend of sexual assault and sexual harassment perpetuated throughout the U.S. military for years,” the letter reads. It said the WNG received 52 reports of sexual assaults between 2013 and 2017. The letter calls on the WNG “to proceed with whatever actions necessary to reverse the decision to discharge Sgt. Ellis.” Ellis has a retaliation complaint against the Wisconsin National Guard for the treatment he received after sounding the alarm. “Sgt. Ellis should be recognized as a hero for exposing alleged acts of sexual misconduct happening in our own government rather than heing discharged and denied retirement benefits after many years of military service,” the letter said. “These disturbing actions are unacceptable.” The letter was also addressed to General Joseph Lengyel, chief of the Pentagon’s National Guard Bureau.