By Trend News Line 2024-06-12 13:51:24.
**Senators Grill US Coast Guard Chief Over Culture of Concealment**
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
In a tense and heated hearing on Tuesday, Senators didn’t hold back in criticizing the head of the US Coast Guard, accusing her of fostering a “culture of concealment” within the agency. Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan faced tough questions from lawmakers on the Homeland Security Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, who accused her of withholding critical information from congressional investigators and failing to hold leaders and perpetrators accountable for serious misconduct.
**Deep Moral Rot Uncovered**
Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the subcommittee, pulled no punches in his assessment, stating, “Our investigation has shown a deep moral rot within the Coast Guard now.” Blumenthal highlighted a culture that prioritizes cronyism over accountability and silence over survivors. The subcommittee has been investigating the Coast Guard’s mishandling of sexual assault cases, with nearly 40 whistleblowers coming forward with troubling accounts.
**Persistent Issue of Sexual Assault**
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
Despite initial assurances from Adm. Fagan that sexual assault was a problem of the past, lawmakers expressed concerns that it remains a persistent and unacceptably prevalent issue within the service. Senators pressed Fagan on the steps being taken to address serious misconduct and ensure that perpetrators and those who cover up their crimes are held accountable.
**CNN Investigation Sparks Hearing**
The hearing was prompted by CNN’s reporting on Operation Fouled Anchor, a secret investigation that uncovered dozens of previously mishandled sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy. The investigation had been kept hidden from Congress and the public, leading to outrage from lawmakers. At a previous hearing, sexual assault victims testified about being silenced and retaliated against, while alleged perpetrators continued to thrive within the service.
**Calls for Transparency and Accountability**
Lawmakers called for transparency and accountability within the Coast Guard, with Senator Blumenthal emphasizing the importance of truth-telling and following the facts wherever they lead. While Adm. Fagan pledged to change the culture within the agency, she faced criticism for what some perceived as a lack of transparency and cooperation with the investigation.
**Pressure Mounts on Coast Guard Leadership**
The hearing comes at a time of increased scrutiny for the Coast Guard, with new controversies and allegations of misconduct coming to light. The agency’s handling of sexual assault cases, racism, and hazing has come under intense scrutiny, with bipartisan lawmakers joining the chorus of criticism.
**Moving Forward**
As the investigation continues, lawmakers have emphasized the need for truth, transparency, and accountability within the Coast Guard. With ongoing pressure on leadership to address the issues plaguing the agency, the future remains uncertain. Adm. Fagan’s commitment to change the culture will be closely monitored as the Coast Guard faces a reckoning with its past mishandling of serious misconduct..
1. Coast Guard leader grilled by senators at hearing on sexual assault cover-up
2. Coast Guard leader senators hearing sexual assault cover-up.
