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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 24 april 2024
Lawmakers criticize CIA’s handling of

sexual misconduct but offer few specifics

By JIM MUSTIAN and manner that such sensitive flood of sexual misconduct
FARNOUSH AMIRI allegations warrant." complaints at CIA and what
Associated Press Though the eight-page report several survivors described as
WASHINGTON (AP) — A was short on specifics, the bi- a campaign to keep them
congressional committee partisan committee credited from speaking out by failing
Monday criticized the CIA's the spy agency for its coop- to ensure their anonymity and
handling of sexual misconduct eration and pointed to new saying it could harm national
allegations in its ranks, saying legislation that provides new security. An AP investigation
victims have been deterred reporting options to victims last year found the accusa-
from coming forward and and aims to improve trans- tions ranged from lewd re-
were aware of "little to no parency. marks about sexual fantasies This April 13, 2016 file photo shows the seal of the Central
accountability or punishment "We are absolutely committed to unwanted touching and Intelligence Agency at its headquarters in Langley, Va.
for the perpetrators of the as- to fostering a safe, respect- sexual assaults. In one case, Associated Press
saults or harassment." After ful workplace environment a senior manager allegedly that case was terminated missions overseas.
interviewing more than two for our employees and have showed up at a subordinate's earlier this year in what her Kevin Carroll, an attorney for
dozen whistleblowers behind taken significant steps to en- house at night with a firearm attorney called a brazen act the woman assaulted in the
closed doors and reviewing sure that, both by bolstering and demanded sex. of retaliation, an accusation stairwell, said the congressio-
more than 4,000 pages of re- our focus on prevention and Last year, a CIA officer trainee the CIA denied. nal report was "excellent."
cords, the House Intelligence strengthening the Agency's was found guilty in Virginia Still, the stairwell assault He called on the agency to
Committee concluded the handling of these issues when of charges accusing him of prompted a reckoning of sorts "cooperate more with local
CIA "failed to handle allega- they arise," the CIA said in a assaulting a coworker with a within the agency. Some of law enforcement investiga-
tions of sexual assault and ha- statement to The Associated scarf and trying to kiss her in- the alleged incidents went tions and prosecutions of sex
rassment within its workforce in Press. side a stairwell at the agency's back years and took place as crimes committed by Agency
the professional and uniform The investigation followed a headquarters. The victim in officers were on risky covert officers."q

Singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc speaks, right, speaks during an
event on the White House complex in Washington, Tuesday,
April 23, 2024, with notable suicide prevention advocates. He is
joined by, from left, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Ashley
Judd, and Shelby Rowe, Executive Director of the Suicide
Prevention Research Center.
Associated Press
Ashley Judd and Aloe Blacc

help the White House unveil

its national suicide prevention
strategy

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Both were on hand as
Associated Press Doug Emhoff, the husband
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ac- of Vice President Kamala
tor Ashley Judd and singer- Harris, helped unveil the
songwriter Aloe Blacc, who Democratic administra-
both lost loved ones to sui- tion’s blueprint for reduc-
cide, on Tuesday helped ing suicides in the United
the Biden administration States. Some 132 people a
promote its new national day kill themselves, he said.
strategy to prevent suicide. “We’re here today be-
Judd’s mother, country star cause we know that we
Naomi Judd, died nearly can and will change this,”
two years ago. Blacc’s Emhoff said.
frequent collaborator, Tim “Suicide is preventable.”q
Bergling, died in 2018.