Milwaukee City Wire

Senators Johnson and Blumenthal have pressed Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan for answers regarding the mishandling of sexual assault investigations at the Coast Guard Academy. According to the senators, new documents obtained by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations reveal troubling information that raises questions about the Coast Guard's decision not to brief Congress about Operation Fouled Anchor in the fall of 2018.

In their letter to Commandant Linda Fagan, Senators Johnson and Blumenthal expressed their concerns, stating, "These documents are troubling and raise new questions about the reasons for the Coast Guard’s fall of 2018 decision not to brief Congress about Operation Fouled Anchor." The senators highlighted that the Coast Guard was worried that making Operation Fouled Anchor public would lead to comprehensive Congressional investigations, hearings, and media interest, as well as cast doubt on the impact of actions taken by the Coast Guard over the past decade to address the climate at the Coast Guard Academy.

The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations initiated a bipartisan inquiry in September 2023 into the mishandling of sexual assault investigations at the Coast Guard Academy and the failure to disclose Operation Fouled Anchor to Congress or the public. A hearing was held in December 2023 as part of the inquiry, where survivors of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy shared their experiences.

Following the hearing, the senators sent an additional letter to the Coast Guard demanding compliance with the Subcommittee’s inquiry. The full text of the letter dated February 14, 2024, addressed to Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan can be found on the PSI website.

The senators' efforts demonstrate a commitment to holding the Coast Guard accountable for its handling of sexual assault investigations and ensuring transparency in addressing these critical issues.