Denver Channel 7 is reporting that the sexual assaults at the Air Force Academy have been known for years at the highest levels of the military. This is simply shameful. 7NEWS Investigates: Letter Points To Possible Cover-Up By Air Force Leaders
DENVER -- Did Air Force leaders at the Pentagon lie to Congress about their knowledge of sex assaults at the Air Force Academy? That is the question after 7NEWS Investigates obtained a letter written three years ago denying any problems with sex assaults at the academy.This seems to be the clearest indication yet of an effort by Air Force leadership to cover-up the problem, 7NEWS reporter John Ferrugia said.
Three years ago the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a memo, written by an Air Force psychiatrist, to the Office of Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon. The memo was a detailed account of sex assaults of female cadets and how the academy leadership had fostered a culture and system that attacked and ostracized victims.
Sen. John Warner asked for an investigation. Unbelievable as it might seem, the Pentagon told him -- in writing -- that the Air Force conducted a thorough investigation and found there was not a problem.
For victims, it is difficult to understand how the memo could have been ignored at the highest levels of the Air Force.
"Even when brought to their attention they didn't do anything about it," said Aya, crying. She is a former Air Force Academy cadet who was sexually assaulted by another cadet.
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have blasted the current leadership for its handling of the sex assault scandal but what is even more shameful is the report filed in 1996 by an Air Force colonel and psychiatrist who made known victims' plight at the academy.
The report noted:
"There is no formal sanctioned program at USAFA to address the needs of cadets who have been assaulted ... A cadet who has been assaulted is likely to be ostracized and humiliated because they were hurt .... is subjected to an investigation by legal/police/OSI agencies which may yield an assembly of hearsay evidence which implies she merited the assault. A cadet who has been assaulted will most likely suffer silently in shame."The report was brought to the attention of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner in July of 2000 because the former superintendent of the academy was up for promotion. Warner immediately sent a copy of the report to an assistant secretary of defense at the Pentagon.
"The committee would appreciate receiving the department's view on the enclosed material prior to considering the nomination of Major Gen. Hopper," Warner wrote.
Just six weeks later a letter of reply was sent to Warner by the assistant secretary of defense. It stated in part, "The Air Force Inspector General thoroughly reviewed the allegations. The allegations have been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated ... The secretary of the Air Force fully supports Major Gen. Hopper's nomination."
The allegations were known at the highest level of the Air Force and of the Defense Department and nothing was done.
"I don't see how this possibly could reach someone's desk and be ignored," Aya said.
Aya was sexually assaulted by an upperclassman at the home of the academy chaplain. She reported the assault and her assailant admitted it, yet he was never prosecuted. Her case was the first mentioned in the report.
"(It's) a cover-up. That is the message I get from this," Aya said about the letter. "They didn't care. They didn't care at all."
Since the beginning of 7NEWS' investigation, the Air Force secretary and chief of staff have consistently told us the problem at the academy was a problem with the culture.
Then, as they replaced the generals in charge, it was a problem of leadership. But now, it is clear the problem was ignored or covered up at every level of the Air Force and has been for years, Ferrguia said.
For victims, one question remains: Who will be held responsible? So far, no one.
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