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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 6 September 2024
Former cadets accuse the Coast Guard Academy of failing to stop

sexual violence

By DAVE COLLINS who filed a complaint Thurs-
Associated Press day is a woman named in
Thirteen former cadets at the papers as Jane Doe 1,
the U.S. Coast Guard Acad- who said she was raped
emy accused overseers twice at the academy and
of the Connecticut school later gang-raped multiple
on Thursday of failing to times while serving on a
prevent sexual violence ship after graduating from
on campus and covering the school.
it up, in federal complaints After the first rape on cam-
seeking $10 million apiece pus, she said she didn’t
in damages. think she could report it be-
The former cadets, who all cause it would be her word
say they were sexually as- against that of the well-
saulted at the academy liked senior cadet she said
from the 1980s to more re- attacked her. She also said
cent years, filed Federal she had heard of other fe-
Tort Claims Act administra- male cadets who were not
tive complaints against the believed when they raised
Coast Guard, its parent sexual misconduct allega-
agency, the Department tions.
of Homeland Security, and About a year later, she said
its former parent agency, she did inform a campus
the Department of Trans- The United States Coast Guard Academy is seen, Sept. 14, 2020, in New London, Conn. official that she was at-
portation. Associated Press tacked, although she did
They allege the Coast not provide details or the
Guard’s failure to put ade- The complaints follow rev- for major reforms and long- “Some of them are still suf- name of the alleged at-
quate policies and practic- elations the Coast Guard awaited accountability for fering from active PTSD. As tacker. The official did not
es in place allowed sexual kept secret a probe, called offenders and those who a result, their careers have formally report it, she said.
violence to go unchecked Operation Fouled Anchor, protected them. There are been ruined. As a result, Years later, she reported it
at the academy in New into sexual assault and ha- multiple government and marriages have been ru- herself to Coast Guard offi-
London, Connecticut, and rassment on campus. The congressional investiga- ined.” cials. Disciplinary proceed-
that officials covered up investigation found that tions underway looking into Coast Guard officials have ings were held against the
the prevalence of sexual dozens of cases involving the mishandling of serious previously said they’re tak- alleged attacker but were
assault and harassment at cadets from 1990 to 2006 misbehavior at the school ing action to change and dismissed, she said.
the school. had been mishandled by and beyond. improve the culture at the Officials told her too much
Coast Guard officials had the school, including the “What happened to these academy and in the ser- time had passed for a suc-
no immediate comment prevention of some per- individuals at the academy vice in response to the al- cessful prosecution, she
Thursday. Spokespeople for petrators from being pros- has really had a lifelong im- legations raised in the Op- said.
the service said they were ecuted. pact,” said Christine Dunn, eration Fouled Anchor in- She said she didn’t feel like
working on a response to The revelations, first report- a lawyer who is represent- vestigation. she could report the subse-
the complaints. ed by CNN, sparked calls ing the former cadets. Among the former cadets quent rapes. q

FBI searches the homes of at least three top deputies to New York

City’s mayor

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ NEW YORK (AP) — FBI the homes of at least three vises the mayor on public was leaving an event in
Associated Press agents this week searched top deputies to New York safety, the person said. Manhattan and raided
City Mayor Eric Adams, ac- Spokespersons for the FBI the home of one of his top
cording to a person familiar and for Adams declined to fundraisers. While Adams
with the matter. comment. has denied any wrong-
FBI agents seized electronic Benjamin Brafman, an at- doing, he confirmed last
devices Wednesday from torney for Phillip Banks, con- month that he had re-
the homes of Phillip Banks, firmed that a search was ceived a subpoena from
the deputy mayor for public conducted on his client’s federal prosecutors.
safety, and Sheena Wright, home early Wednesday, Pearson is currently fac-
the first deputy mayor, said but declined to comment ing multiple lawsuits for al-
the person, who requested further. legedly sexually harassing
anonymity because they The searches marked the female employees and is
were not authorized to dis- latest sign of legal trouble facing a separate investi-
cuss the ongoing investiga- in Adams’ administration. gation for his role in a brawl
tion. He is a first-term Democrat at a shelter for homeless mi-
Agents also searched the and former New York City grants.
home of Timothy Pearson, police captain. A lawyer representing
Mayor Eric Adams, right, is flanked by deputy mayor Sheena a former high-ranking offi- In November, federal Pearson in the harassment
Wright, left, during a press conference at City Hall in New York, cial in the New York Police agents seized the mayor’s suit did not immediately re-
Dec. 12, 2023.
Associated Press Department who now ad- phones and iPad as he spond to a phone call.q