The Air Force issued an apology Wednesday after Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) revealed that she was raped while she was in service.
“The criminal actions reported today by Senator McSally violate every part of what it means to be an Airman. We are appalled and deeply sorry for what Senator McSally experienced and we stand behind her and all victims of sexual assault. We are steadfast in our commitment to eliminate this reprehensible behavior and breach of trust in our ranks,” the Air Force said in a statement.
{mosads}McSally, who served in the Air Force from 1988 to 2010, disclosed during a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing Wednesday that a superior officer had raped her.
“The perpetrators abused their position of power in profound ways, and in one case I was preyed upon and then raped by a superior officer,” she said.
“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, and I thought I was strong but felt powerless.”
McSally did not name her attacker or clarify when or where the assault happened. She added that she was frustrated with the Air Force’s “inadequate” response and at one point almost decided to leave the military.
The Arizona Republican retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 2010.
McSally called on the military to increase accountability and adopt internal reforms to “ensure all commanders are trained and empowered to take legal action, prosecute fairly and rid perpetrators from our ranks.”