Air Force major general William Cooley

The U.S. Air Force announced Saturday that a major general was found guilty by a military judge of one of three abusive sexual contact specifications in ...

Why it matters: The progressive politics that mainstream Democrats blame for their decline stand to take center stage if both trendlines hold. The U.S. and Israel will hold a new round of strategic talks this week focusing on the Iranian nuclear program and countering Iran’s activity in the region, Israeli and U.S. officials said. What they're saying: "This case clearly demonstrates the commitment of Air Force leaders to fully investigate the facts and hold Airmen of any rank accountable for their actions when they fail to uphold Air Force standards," said Col. Eric Mejia, Staff Judge Advocate for Air Force Materiel Command, in a statement. - The former Air Force Research Laboratory commander was found guilty of the first specification, but cleared of the other two by Col. Christina Jimenez, the senior military judge in the case, the Air Force said. The big picture: The verdict in the case of Maj. Gen. William Cooley, who pleaded not guilty to all three specifications related to a 2018 incident involving a woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, "marks the first court-martial trial and conviction of a general officer in the Air Force’s 75 year history," per a U.S. Air Force statement. The U.S. Air Force announced Saturday that a major general was found guilty by a military judge of one of three abusive sexual contact specifications in Ohio.

Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley was convicted of abusive sexual conduct on Saturday by Col. Christina M. Jimenez, the senior military judge in the case, at Wright- ...

General Cooley formerly commanded the Air Force Research Laboratory, which develops warfighting technology for U.S. air, space and cyberspaces forces. It added that, since then, General Cooley has been serving as a special assistant to General Bunch. “She alleged he pressed her up against the driver’s side window, forcibly kissed and groped her through her clothes. General Cooley’s conviction “is a hopeful sign, for sure,” Mr. Guilds said. “During the short ride, she said he told her that he fantasized about having sex with her,” the Air Force said in its statement. These changes include policy developments that better support accusers, greater sensitivity by military leadership to sexual assault, increased procedural protections for victims, and prosecutors who are more likely to believe survivors.

Officials said the verdict marks the first court-martial trial and conviction of a general officer in the Air Force's 75-year history.

Officials said the woman is a civilian who is not a Department of Defense employee. The charge faced by Maj. Gen. William Cooley during the weeklong court-martial at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio had three specifications, one alleging a forcible kiss and two alleging forcible touching in 2018. “... Hopefully, this will not be as difficult for the next survivor.”