Congresswoman Comes to Aid of Single Army Mom

A California congresswoman is coming to the aid of a single mother who is being detained after she refused to deploy to Afghanistan on Nov. 5.

Alexis Hutchinson, 21, refused to leave, she said, because she didn't have anyone to take care of her 10-month-old son. Military police arrested Hutchinson on Nov. 6. She now faces criminal prosecution by the Army and is being confined to the Georgia base where she is stationed.

But Hutchinson's hometown congresswoman, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said she is doing what she can to help her constituent.

"In an effort to assist Specialist Hutchinson, my office has been in contact with the appropriate military authorities and will continue to do all we can to help resolve this unique and troubling case," Lee said in a statement to the Huffington Post.

Single parents are required to have a plan in place for the care of their children upon deployment. It has been reported that Hutchinson, who is no longer with the baby's father, had originally planned for her mother to take her son in California. But the boy's grandmother realized she didn't have the resources to take care of him, because she is caring for three other relatives.

"It is outrageous that they would deploy a single mother without a complete and current family care plan," said Hutchinson in a statement through her lawyer. "I would like to find someone I trust who can take care of my son, but I cannot force my family to do this. They are dealing with their own health issues."

Hutchinson's lawyer told the Huffington Post that her client has been threatened with a court martial to appear in Afghanistan, but that pressure from widespread coverage in the media has so far kept the military from acting on that threat. However, military lawyers still want to prosecute.

We'll keep you posted on developments. In the meantime, Hutchinson's son is with his grandmother, where he has been ever since the boy's mother was arrested.

Photo courtesy of krossbow via Flickr.