CNN's probe into the Coast Guard Academy's concealed scandal unfolded.
A recent investigation about the Coast Guard Academy's concealment of sexual assault incidents for decades has gained a lot of attention.
This week, the official in charge of dealing with sexual assault prevention at the Coast Guard Academy, Shannon Norenberg, decided to step down in protest. She stated, "I can no longer in good conscience be part of an organization that would betray me, betray victims of sexual assault, and betray the system I helped set up to hold perpetrators at the academy accountable." Watch her conversation on Anderson Cooper 360°.
Additionally, the Coast Guard's first female commandant, Adm. Linda Fagan, is expected to testify about this issue on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. She will likely encounter challenging inquiries regarding why those who had concealed misconduct in the past haven't been held responsible.
To create this piece of investigative reporting, CNN Investigates had a group of journalists working on it for some time, including Melanie Hicken, Blake Ellis, Audrey Ash, Curt Devine, and Pamela Brown. I contacted Hicken and Ellis, two reporters who have been working on this story since it began. Here's our conversation below.
WOLF: You've been following this Coast Guard story extensively. Where did you first start, and how did the story unravel from there?
HICKEN AND ELLISS: Our journey into the Coast Guard story began with a young woman named Hope Hicks, who was studying at a separate service academy - the US Merchant Marine Academy. She wrote about being raped by her boss while at sea, causing a huge stir within the commercial shipping business. During our exploration of that issue, it became intriguing to us. We spent many months speaking with mariners who had experienced sexual assault on board ships, learning about the justice process in that industry, and discovering that many assault cases were going unpunished within the Coast Guard's purview.
It wasn't until we started focusing our attention on the Coast Guard that we ran into the Fouled Anchor scandal. Unraveling this story took months, and it required building trust with sources, acquiring vital records, and conducting sensitive interviews with victims.
WOLF: Has the Coast Guard admitted to having a cover-up regarding this?
HICKEN AND ELLISS: The Coast Guard's present leader has apologized to the workforce and Congress and admitted to the suppression of the Fouled Anchor investigation. However, they have been cautious not to directly label it as a cover-up.
WOLF: Have there been any subsequent actions taken to address the events from years ago?
HICKEN AND ELLISS: The Fouled Anchor operation aimed to examine cases of sexual assault that occurred in the past, after a 2014 student claimed that her allegations of rape from years before had never been investigated, leading to her attacker becoming a senior officer in the Air Force. Unfortunately, most of the alleged perpetrators weren't prosecuted at the time. Even after these cases were reopened during Fouled Anchor, few offenders faced any consequences.
Of the alleged instances of sexual assault, only one offender was charged criminally in the military court, but the charges were eventually dismissed after a review by an appeals court because the Coast Guard took too long to investigate the case.
Approximately 40 cases fell outside the Coast Guard's jurisdiction, leaving no room for taking action against the suspected assailants. The Coast Guard is now investigating an officer for sexually abusing a cadet who reported him twenty years ago at the Coast Guard Academy. The officer's defense lawyer denies the accusations, but the woman raised concerns about him when he appeared on her promotion list to senators.
Another woman is requesting that her rape case from 2005 be reopened, which the Coast Guard maintains it cannot pursue due to the officer not being under their jurisdiction now.
WOLF: Do you know if there have been any further developments in the case?
HICKEN AND ELLISS: Unfortunately, we cannot reveal any additional information as our investigation is still ongoing. But we can guarantee you that no matter how long it takes, our team at CNN Investigates will continue taking steps to bring the truth to light.
WOLF: In the coming days, there's a hearing in Congress about ongoing sexual assault cases in the Coast Guard Academy. Recent resignations like Shannon Norenberg's have sparked questions about any accountability for these issues.
HICKEN and ELLIS: Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan will likely receive some tough questions at this hearing, as her goal has been to focus on improvements in policy to prevent sexual assault and support survivors. However, many Coast Guard members are disgruntled that those responsible for covering up Operation Fouled Anchor have not faced consequences. Additionally, the absence of public acknowledgment from Fagan about the ongoing prevalence of these incidents has left some feeling unheard.
Norenberg, who resigned during the scandal, expressed anger over being used in what she refers to as "a cruel coverup", where both victims and Congress were deceived. She also cited a lack of justice faced by accused individuals as a reason for her frustration.
WOLF: Given the history of the Coast Guard Academy and its previously reported issues, can we ascertain the reasons why this type of cover-up culture developed there? Is it something specific to the Coast Guard or just the academy?
HICKEN and ELLIS: The longstanding problems within the Academy, including fear of retaliation for reporting assaults, lack of accountability for culprits, and a strong boys-club culture, have seen parallels in various other institutions, like the US Merchant Marine Academy. Overarching deficiencies in the US military's handling of sexual assault cases are evident as survivors have expressed the need for significant improvements.
The relative autonomy of the Coast Guard—not falling under the Department of Defense like other branches—has likely shielded it from the same level of oversight faced by other services. But some feel hopeful that recent events will pave the way for increased scrutiny.
WOLF: When you end your articles with your contact details, does this lead to more investigations?
HICKEN and ELLIS: Absolutely! Countless stories have stemmed from emails sent in response to our work, with several sexual assault survivors first getting in touch through our provided email ([email protected]). Meanwhile, present and former Coast Guard members have confidentially shared valuable information that has greatly impacted our reporting. So if you have any story ideas, don't hesitate to reach out!
References:
- CNN : Coast Guard cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy launched a widespread protest to bring attention to continuous reports of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct.
- USNI News : A group of senators is asking why the Coast Guard is moving so slowly on the sexual assault allegations that prompted two women to drop out of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in September.
- DoD Buzz : The latest alleged sexual assault at the Coast Guard Academy, combined with actions and inaction of senior leadership, highlight issues lingering within the institution.
Images- CNN's article
Links- CNN's email: [email protected]
Read also:
The investigation into the Coast Guard Academy's concealed scandal involving sexual assault incidents for decades has led to the resignation of Shannon Norenberg, who was in charge of sexual assault prevention at the academy. She expressed her discontentment with the organization for betraying victims of sexual assault.
Furthermore, the Coast Guard's first female commandant, Adm. Linda Fagan, is expected to testify about this issue on Capitol Hill, where she may face challenging inquiries about why those responsible for past misconduct have not been held accountable.
