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Bush Admin Slow to Respond on KBR Sex Assault Questions
January 02, 2008 2:31 PM
A powerful senator says he is still waiting for the Bush administration to respond to inquiries he made last month following reports that American women working in Iraq had been allegedly raped or sexually assaulted by coworkers or a U.S. government official.
ABC News reported last month that at least two female employees of the government contracting giant KBR had reported being raped or sexually assaulted; two years later, the report said, the alleged victims could not learn details of their cases or why they had not been prosecuted.
"We're pressing hard for answers," said a spokesman for Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Nelson wrote Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month requesting details on how many Americans in Iraq had reported being sexually assaulted or abused, how they were investigated, and if any had been recommended for prosecution.
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- Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
He has not received a reply, a spokesman confirmed today. Nor has Nelson received replies from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates or Attorney General Michael Mukasey, to whom he also wrote asking for information and assistance, according to the lawmaker's spokesman.
In one case reported by ABC News, the State Department's Diplomatic Security referred its findings to the Justice Department for prosecution but reported that Justice declined to bring charges. The Justice Department would not discuss the case with ABC News, declined an invitation to appear before a House hearing last month on the issue and has not responded to requests for information on the matter from other lawmakers.
Nelson, who chairs a key State Department oversight panel, had given Rice a deadline of Friday, Dec. 21 to respond. Asked about missing that deadline, a State Department spokesman told ABC News, "If the senator has asked questions, I’m quite sure we will provide answers. But it’s not something I could discuss with you."
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
January 2, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (41)
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What do you expect from this bunch of morons in this administration..Dumbo is cutting weeds in Crawford, Condi is shopping, Gates is picking his nose.
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | Jan 2, 2008 2:53:26 PM
Maybe they just don't care?
Posted by: Anthony | Jan 2, 2008 3:40:58 PM
For the past 7 years, I have yet to hear a straight answer, if one at all, from this Bush gang, whose arrogance and incompetency, yes, surpasses even that of the Harding and Hoover administrations. And that's scraping the bottle of the barrel.
Posted by: mongo100 | Jan 2, 2008 3:44:43 PM
Kick all these bums out of our government, bush, chaney and Condasleeza Rice. THEY LACK credibility, & character.
Posted by: Squierghia74 | Jan 2, 2008 3:53:29 PM
I expect Gloria Allred to be all over this.
Posted by: susan | Jan 2, 2008 3:59:44 PM
.
DickNBush always work in Katrina-mode, unless fast action is needed on something REALLY important, like a drop in oil price or a decline in the income of billionaires.
.
Posted by: ALEX H. | Jan 2, 2008 4:00:49 PM
wow, now there's a real surprise. Our illustrious government dragging its feet when it comes to looking into misconduct in one of its 'companies.' what ever will happen next?
Posted by: BigT | Jan 2, 2008 4:03:28 PM
HE IS KING OF USA
Posted by: iamking | Jan 2, 2008 4:39:38 PM
If she was only an Iraqi, Bush and Cheney would be waterboarding everyone involved to get someone charged.
Posted by: Xarmy | Jan 2, 2008 5:00:32 PM
The GOP Corporate Meat Puppet Profiteers don’t have time for justice when there are billions to be made. That’s some business plan; obliterate a country and then profit from the rebuilding. Meanwhile, back at the ranch; this administration has completely ignored all domestic issues. Vote them out America! ALL OF THEM!
Posted by: Citizen1960 | Jan 2, 2008 5:21:12 PM
This "faux" Bush administration WILL answer for their crimes. This isn't the gullible public his father helped to brainwash throughout the 60's.
Posted by: Truth | Jan 2, 2008 5:31:31 PM
The GOP Corporate Lap Dog Profiteers don’t have time for justice when there are billions to be made. That’s some business plan; obliterate a country and then profit from the rebuilding. Meanwhile, back at the ranch; this administration has completely ignored all domestic issues. Vote them out America! ALL OF THEM!
Posted by: Citizen1960 | Jan 2, 2008 5:43:34 PM
....I see the Houses still looking for something to do after they outlawed light bulbs in 12 years. WORST INCOMPETENT, DO-NOTHING CONGRESS AND SENATE EVER!!
Posted by: cheesedrippings69 | Jan 2, 2008 5:52:40 PM
Does anyone really expect anything more from this administration. They have lied and cheated their way through 7 years in office....
Posted by: Rick M | Jan 2, 2008 5:59:37 PM
Why is there even the slightest element of surprise in this story? Were we expecting this administration to act like a real government?
We have as the leader of the free world a man who started a war on completely false pretenses. He claims to be guided by God, his "higher father." Bush cannot string two coherent paragraphs together on his best day and still cannot pronounce "nuclear."
This man giggles and smirks at the most inappropriate times. One has to wonder whether he is merely lacking in intellectual curiosity or truly stupid. His sole personal accomplishment seems to involve riding a bicycle. Everything else in his life came by way of his daddy and his granddaddy.
Posted by: Paul H | Jan 2, 2008 6:15:07 PM
Ok, at the risk of being the devil's advocate on this, I don't know why the Justice Department would not respond to Senator Nelson (D-FL) on this, and I don't see any reason why KBR would not go after these guys who (allegedly)committed these rapes. What would KBR have to gain by not passing this on to HR and it's legal division? Most large corporations would do just that. I do know that it's a Justice Department issue and not anything to do with the Secretary of State (Condolesa Rice). Neither does it really have anything to do with the Defense Department (Gates, etc.) My guess is the Administration is standing down waiting for this woman's lawyers, KBR, the accused's lawyers, and the Justice Department to work it through. I DO know that Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL.) is a consumate grandstander. Watch him everytime a hurricane goes through his state. He's right out there getting air time. He should be involved to the extent that he is part of the committee for oversight of the State Department (which has a minor role), but that is it! As far as the Administration and KBR sweeping this under the rug, I can see no end game in that. My guess is we'll hear more about this when the accuser's lawyers and the accuseds' lawyers come to an agreement under the auspices of the Justice Department. As for Bill Nelson, well, he's a politician that always seems to have an agenda from what I've seen of him. Now this is the way I logically see it assuming there is no truth to the conspiracy point of view. Sorry if I was too wordy.
Posted by: LongT | Jan 2, 2008 6:17:42 PM
The accuser's lawyers, the accuseds' lawyers, and possibly KBR's lawyers are hashing it out. It's inappropriate for the State Department, the Administration, or even the Justice Department to comment. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) is grandstanding again.
Posted by: LongT | Jan 2, 2008 6:35:35 PM
Since when does a White House Administration act as the FBI or a judge or police over matters such as this? Why are the Dems always picking a fight? I am a naturalized citizen of the U.S. and English is my second language, and I see the error in this democrat's argument. Has anyone common sense? Or should I say, "U.S. is all litigation and bureaucracy and no common sense?" THIS MAKES NO SENSE AND THE PEOPLE FALLING FOR THIS IS EQUALLY SENSLESS. Obviously, this democrat thinks some liberals are stupid. But I must say that some really are.
Posted by: Will | Jan 2, 2008 6:53:38 PM
If there were any powerful Senators the Bush administration wouldn't do half the crap they do.
Posted by: Nathan | Jan 2, 2008 7:09:53 PM
Will, both parties make it a total living picking at each other. It's what they do. Both are bad.
Posted by: Sandra | Jan 2, 2008 7:26:18 PM
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