Sen. Martha McSally Reveals in Congressional Hearing She Was Raped by Air Force Superior Officer
Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) revealed in a congressional hearing on Wednesday that she was raped by a superior officer when she used to serve in the Air Force.
McSally described her ordeal in her prepared remarks as spoke to gathered witnesses at a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing on sexual assault in the military.
“So, like you, I also am a military sexual assault survivor, but unlike so many brave survivors, I didn’t report being sexually assaulted. Like so many women and men, I didn’t trust the system at the time. I blamed myself. I was ashamed and confused. I thought I was strong, but felt powerless. The perpetrators abused their position of power in profound ways. In one case I was preyed upon and raped by a superior officer.”
McSally went on to say that she stayed silent about the assault for years, but felt compelled to speak out after seeing the military’s “wholly inadequate responses” to multiple scandals within the ranks.
“I was horrified at how my attempt to share generally my experiences was handled,” McSally said. “I almost separated from the Air Force at 18 years of service over my despair. Like many victims, I felt like the system was raping me all over again.”
McSally rose to the rank of colonel by the time she retired from service, and she was the first female fighter pilot to fly during combat after the ban on women was lifted.
Watch above, via ABC.
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