By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) announced his election as Chair of the Congressional Justice for Warriors Caucus (CJWC) this week.
Crane is a Green Beret veteran with multiple combat deployments in Afghanistan and Africa. The CJWC, established in 2019, focuses on addressing injustices faced by service members and veterans, including wrongful convictions, flawed military investigations, and nonjudicial punishments.
The caucus has secured clemency, parole, and pardons for affected individuals, while advocating for improved medical care, correction of records, and accountability from the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs for unmet congressional mandates.
The group also works to reform aspects of military law, such as the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Rules for Courts-Martial, to protect against unlawful command influence, prosecutorial misconduct, and misapplication of rules.
“I’m honored to serve as Chairman of the Congressional Justice for Warriors Caucus, which does vital work on behalf of our military community,” Crane said in a statement. “I encourage any veteran who believes they’ve been wrongfully persecuted to reach out. We’re here to help.”
Posting the announcement to X, Crane wrote, “This Congress, I’m honored to chair the Congressional Justice for Warriors Caucus. Since 2019, the Caucus has delivered positive outcomes for our military community. If you are a veteran who believes you have been wrongfully persecuted, please reach out.”
Crane will be joined by Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) as Executive Member, along with Reps. Eric Burlison (R-MO) and Cory Mills (R-FL). Veterans or those with relevant cases can submit information through the caucus website.
The caucus advised that for veterans to streamline their inquiries, they should be prepared to provide:
- VA claim number for a case with the Department of Veterans Affairs;
- Charge sheet from either DOW or civilian court that you are seeking assistance with;
- A timeline of events in chronological order;
- Any pertinent and concise letters of support from witnesses of the event;
- Both the government’s and the defense’s appellant briefs in PDF format, with relevant portions highlighted to support your argument and theirs; and
- Your address and phone number so that we can contact you.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
