HARTFORD, Conn. — A report from a U.S. Senate committee has revealed that high-ranking officers within the Coast Guard concealed an extensive investigation into sexual misconduct occurring at the service’s academy. This cover-up spanned several years and was kept hidden from both Congress and the public due to concerns regarding the possible repercussions of disclosing the findings. The investigation, known as Operation Fouled Anchor, was flagged in the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report released on Friday, which echoed previous findings from the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability released just a week earlier.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut who chairs the committee, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Today’s report confirms and provides additional powerful evidence that the cover-up of sexual assault in the Coast Guard was deliberate and purposeful and longstanding.” He further demanded accountability, saying that both the public and survivors of the assaults deserve an explanation.
In a response issued on Friday evening, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard expressed their commitment to addressing the unacceptable behavior documented in the report, specifically sexual assault and harassment. The spokesperson highlighted the agency’s proactive approach in combatting these crimes and ensuring support for those affected.
Officials at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, did not respond to requests for comments immediately. The agency has previously issued apologies regarding its management of sexual misconduct reports and claimed to have made several improvements in its approach.
Operation Fouled Anchor, which operated from 2014 to 2019, examined over 100 allegations of sexual assault that occurred at the academy between the early 1990s and 2006, assessing how these cases were managed. However, full disclosure of the investigation’s existence was delayed until last year, when it was initially reported by CNN.
The investigation unveiled that many sexual harassment and assault complaints involving cadets at the academy were mishandled and, in some instances, offenders were not prosecuted. The revelation ignited calls for reform and accountability, leading to widespread scrutiny from both government agencies and former cadets, many of whom reported being victims of sexual assault.
According to the subcommittee’s report, Admiral Karl Schultz, who was the commandant of the Coast Guard at the time, decided in 2018 not to publicly disclose Operation Fouled Anchor, claiming the investigation was incomplete. This decision followed discussions with Vice Commandant Admiral Charles Ray, who evaluated the potential benefits and detriments of making the investigation known.
Ray noted in a handwritten message that there were pros to disclosure, such as addressing the issue directly and promoting cultural change, but also concerns about re-victimization and an endless cycle of investigations. The subcommittee relayed that Coast Guard officials suggested three options for addressing the issue but only recommended discussing it if prompted by Congress.
Officials emphasized a cautious approach, warning that any proactive communication with Congress could lead to more exhaustive investigations and unwanted media attention. Attempts to contact Schultz and Ray for comment were unsuccessful, and previous leadership indicated they had indeed planned to disclose Operation Fouled Anchor to Congress.
The report additionally revealed that the Coast Guard drafted numerous versions of a final report for Operation Fouled Anchor, with the most comprehensive draft spanning 26 pages, which detailed the assaults at the academy. In contrast, the final report was condensed to six pages, omitting much of the substantial content found in earlier drafts.
Furthermore, the subcommittee accused Coast Guard officials of inadequately cooperating with the investigation, citing failures to produce necessary documents and excessive redactions. In defense, the Coast Guard stated that it has made significant efforts to comply with congressional requests, meticulously reviewing millions of pages of documents.
The investigation by the Senate subcommittee is ongoing. The report concludes by asserting that the Coast Guard’s decision to withhold information from Congress and the public resulted in a failure to protect and support members who experienced sexual misconduct during their time of service.
