NEW HAVEN, Conn — One Connecticut congressman is demanding answers from U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Academy leaders after he was given hundreds of documents showing they intentionally chose to cover up the mishandling of numerous sexual assault cases.
The internal investigation – known as “Operation Fouled Anchor” – identified 62 substantiated incidents of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment that occurred at the New London academy, or by academy cadets between 1988 and 2006. The investigation was completed in 2018, but the decision was made to conceal it.
The new records turned over to Congress reveal how top officials at the Coast Guard engaged in a calculated plan to conceal the damning findings of the investigation - including a handwritten list of pros and cons.
On Friday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal demanded answers. He said comments by a top Coast Guard official called the misconduct a “problem of the past,” but lawmakers aren’t so sure that’s the case, as the cover-up runs deep.
“To put it bluntly the Coast Guard embarked on a purposeful strategy of concealment from the public and Congress because it wanted to avoid the embarrassment of telling the world that sexual assault was a problem in the Coast Guard,” Blumenthal said.
He said Friday he has written to Coast Guard leaders demanding they provide a reason as to why this decision was made.
“The Coast Guard has a responsibility for the disclosure of full and accurate truth-telling to the American public and to Congress about this chapter of its history. Operation Fouled Anchor is truly foul but concealing it only made it worse,” Blumenthal said.
The senator said the congressional hearing on the matter last December showed cadets are still dealing with a continued culture of assault and misreporting as the Coast Guard has not moved to change things as quickly as investigation leaders want.
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Blumenthal said the Coast Guard has been slow in turning over the documents requested by his office but he expects more documents to come to light in the future.
Brooke Griffin is a reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at bgriffin@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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