Congress Approves Independent Investigation Of AFA
Rumsfeld To Appoint Committee Investigating Alleged Sex Assaults
POSTED: 3:27 pm MDT April 14, 2003
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard on Monday won congressional approval for an independent investigation of the rape scandal at the Air Force Academy.
"I will continue my commitment to finding the root of this problem in order to change the current culture at the academy," said Allard.
The investigation was authorized as part of the $75 billion Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, which pays for the cost of the war in Iraq. It calls on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to appoint a seven-member committee to investigate reports that at least 56 cadets have been sexually assaulted at the academy. The committee is to begin its work by May 1 and report back to Congress within 90 days. Allard and several other senators and congressional representatives called for an independent investigation, saying the Air Force was not holding those responsible for the scandal accountable. U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., co-sponsored the amendment. "The secretary of the Air Force has proven to our satisfaction that he cannot and will not address this situation, this crisis at the Air Force Academy in a mature and efficient manner," McCain said on April 2. The Air Force launched two investigations into the assaults, and the Defense Department's inspector general is pursuing its own probe. Top commanders at the academy have been replaced, but Air Force Secretary James Roche has declined to blame or punish them for the problems. Dick Wadhams, spokesman for Allard, said the committee will be independent because no active military personnel will be on it. "They won't be constrained by anything internally in the Defense Department," Allard said. He said some critics of the military will never be satisfied but an independent investigation should make the parents of cadets feel better about their safety of their daughters and sons. Wadhams said feedback from retired military personnel in Colorado has been very supportive of the efforts of Allard and others to try to find the source of the problem at the academy.The scandal was first brought to light by 7NEWS Investigates which interviewed a number of former cadets who claimed they were the victims of sexual assault and that their cases were covered up.
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Previous Stories:
- April 14, 2003: Future Cadets Attend Orientation At Air Force Academy
- April 10, 2003: New Command Takes Over At Air Force Academy
- April 9, 2003: AFA Cadets May Face Sex Assault Charges
- April 7, 2003: New Female Air Force Academy Leaders Begin Arriving
- April 3, 2003: Senators Approve Independent Inquiry Into AFA Rapes
- April 1, 2003: Senators Blast Air Force Leaders For Not Holding Anyone Accountable
- March 28, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: AFA Assault Problems Documented For Years
- March 28, 2003: Senior Female AFA Officer To Watch Over Sex Assault Cases
- March 27, 2003: Top AFA Leaders To Be Replaced
- March 26, 2003: Sweeping Changes Proposed At Air Force Academy
- March 24, 2003: Senators Call For Leadership Change At Air Force Academy
- March 21, 2003: More Changes Proposed At Air Force Academy
- March 19, 2003: Report: Top Air Force Academy Officials To Leave
- March 18, 2003: Third Team To Investigate Air Force Academy Rape Scandal
- March 14, 2003: Air Force Has Not Court-Martialed For Cadet-On-Cadet Assaults
- March 12, 2003: Both Teams Of Investigators Now At AFA
- March 11, 2003: Report: Academy Cadets To Be Separated
- March 10, 2003: Bush 'Concerned' About AFA Rape Allegations
- March 10, 2003: Air Force Chief Of Staff: Female Cadets Are Safe Here
- March 6, 2003: Air Force Secretary: 54 Cases Of Rape, Assault, At AFA
- March 6, 2003: Top AFA Officers Must Go, Tancredo Says
- March 5, 2003: Air Force Investigative Team Returns To Springs
- March 4, 2003: Allard Hopes Air Force Investigation Not Just PR Move
- March 1, 2003: Air Force Family Betrayed After Daughter's Rape
- February 28, 2003: More AFA Victims Come Forward As Roche Speaks To Cadets
- February 27, 2003: Secretary Of Air Force Promises Change At AFA
- February 26, 2003: Senators, Chairman Call For Independent AFA Rape Investigation
- February 25, 2003: 3 Senators Ask For Independent Investigation Of AFA Rapes
- February 24, 2003: Air Force Opens Phone Line For Academy Rape Victims
- February 21, 2003: Allard May Ask For Senate Hearing Into AFA Rape Case
- February 20, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Air Force Academy's Amnesty Clause
- February 18, 2003: Academy Superintendent Responds To 7NEWS' Rape Investigation
- February 17, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Victims Of Academy Rapes Speak Up, Punished
- February 14, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Rape Victims At Air Force Academy Afraid To Report
- February 13, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Honor, Code, Betrayal At Air Force Academy
- February 11, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates Alleged Rapes At Air Force Academy
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