Military officials appeared before a Senate panel on Wednesday to answer questions over the failure to halt the epidemic of sexual assault within their ranks. Some 19,000 members of the military were sexually assaulted in the 2011 fiscal year. Fewer than one in 10 of the perpetrators whose attacks were reported have actually been held accountable. The landmark hearing came amid controversy over the reinstatement of Air Force Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, who was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault before Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin tossed out the conviction. New York senator and panel chair, Kirsten Gillibrand, blasted the military’s handling of sexual assault.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: “I am extremely disturbed, based on the last round of question and answer, that each of you believes that the convening authority is what maintains discipline and order within your ranks. If that is your view, I don’t know how you can say that having 19,000 sexual assaults and rapes a year is discipline and order. I appreciate the work you are doing, I honestly do. But it’s not enough. And if you think you are achieving discipline and order with your current convening authority framework, I am sorry to say you are wrong.”