WASHINGTON — The head of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Linda Fagan, testified on Capitol Hill Tuesday, for the second Senate hearing investigating reports the Coast Guard Academy in New London mishandled sexual assault investigations.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs’ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and ranking member U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), say Coast Guard leadership has not been complying with this investigation, both saying the “culture of coverup” is continuing.
“This situation demands unsparing truth-telling,” said Blumenthal. “We would like more cooperation from the Coast Guard.”
This comes after reports the Coast Guard Academy failed to disclose the results of an internal probe into sexual misconduct, called “Operation Fouled Anchor,” which found dozens of sexual assault cases at the academy were mishandled from 1988 to 2006.
Lawmakers say this is not a problem of the past though, claiming these issues still persist.
“The Coast Guard is continuing to suffer from a culture of concealment and cover-up,” Blumenthal added.
The committee says the Coast Guard didn’t supply requested documents until the day before the hearing, “dumping” thousands of pages, mostly redacted.
They also pointed to the New London academy’s head of sexual assault prevention, Shannon Norenberg, resigning just days before the second hearing. Norenberg says officials told her to lie to survivors and to Congress.
Admiral Fagan insisted Tuesday afternoon the Coast Guard is taking action.
“I cannot change the past,” said Fagan. “I remain steadfast in my commitment to making lasting cultural change.”
She says the Coast Guard has devoted more resources and is complying with the investigation, but there was a real disagreement Tuesday afternoon between the admiral and the senators of what compliance and action look like.
“We are speaking to Coast Guard Academy sexual assault survivors on a near daily basis,” said Christine Dunn, partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP representing some of the victims. “At today’s hearing, they were expecting answers and for the Coast Guard to take accountability. Instead, the Commandant gave platitudes with no real substance or plan to give justice to survivors.”
Johnson said the committee will issue subpoenas if they don’t receive all requested documents and information, adding there will be more hearings.
Both he and Blumenthal continued to call for “truth, transparency and accountability,” hinting a possible “change in leadership” may be necessary.
The PSI will be issuing a preliminary report on this investigation in the near future.
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Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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