The House Intelligence Committee expressed concerns over allegations of sexual abuse within the CIA, so they want to talk to CIA Director Bill Burns.
The CIA, like any big organization, sometimes faces cases of sexual abuse among its employees. Unfortunately, some victims have reportedly claimed that the agency isn’t handling these cases well.
Since January, at least three female CIA employees have told the Committee that when they file a report about sexual abuse at work, nobody listens to them.
One whistleblower’s lawyer says that Langley, where the CIA is based, is even discouraging victims from reporting sexual misconduct and threatening them if they try to tell the police about it.
One woman reported a physical assault by a male colleague multiple times but was ignored. When she considered going to law enforcement, she was told that the agency would no longer protect her from the alleged attacker.
The Committee wants to find out the truth about what’s happening inside the CIA. The agency denies the allegations and said that it’s “not true” that staff are threatened if they speak out.
“This idea that there’s some threatening [of] officers who want to talk to HPSCI, that’s not true,” the senior CIA official said, referring to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
“We haven’t threatened or blocked anybody,” the CIA official added.
However, in May, another official admitted that they need to change their processes because it’s not working.
On July 26, a former senior CIA officer named Sabrina De Sousa, who managed CIA operations in Iraq in the 2000s, said that this problem isn’t new. She heard many complaints from female agents under her command, and she also alleged that the agency’s top leaders protected abusers.
Now, Representatives Mike Turner (R-OH) and Jim Himes (D-CT), the top members of the Intelligence Committee, have written to Director Burns, asking for his help in addressing the complaints they’ve heard from female agents.
“Sexual assault is a heinous crime. Our committee is committed to addressing this matter and protecting those who are serving their country. We have been in contact with Director Burns, and he is fully committed to working with us on this issue.” Turner and Himes said in a joint statement.
CIA spokesperson Tammy Kupperman Thorp also declared that there “can be no tolerance for sexual assault or harassment at CIA.”
“The Director and senior CIA leaders have personally met with officers to understand their concerns and to take swift action,” Thorp said.
“We have established an office to work closely with survivors of sexual assault, and we are committed to treating every concern raised by members of the workforce with the utmost seriousness.”
