opposed a bill sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) that would strip military commanders of the decision of prosecute sexual assault cases.

The South Carolina Republican insisted that the decision should remain within the chain of command.

"I think it will do a lot of damage," Graham said. "For 200 years, military commanders have been the court martial authority."

"And sexual assaults are not on the rise because the military justice system lets people go. It’s on the rise because of the culture that’s created in the military."

In February, Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin enraged members of Congress by overturning a jury's guilty verdict in a sexual assault case.