Query Into Rape Allegations At AFA

They spend ten days investigating allegations of rape at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (CO). But they never talked with the town's leading rape and domestic abuse clinic, where 22 of the woman who say they were brutalized sought help.

The Trust, Educadtion, Safety, Support and Action Rape Crisis Clinic in Colorado Springs is where dozens of cadets have gone to complain about sexual abuse for more than 15 years. The reason: They were afraid to report the attacks to AFA officials. They were afraid of being threatened, punished, or expelled.

The USAF investigation comes after former cadets complained they left the AFA because they were intimidated or disciplined for reporting unwanted sexual advances. The investigation threatens to become the military's biggest sexual scandal since the 1991 Tailhook incident.

Cadets Report Intimidation, Assaults Not Reported

Jennifer Bier, head of clinical services at the crisis center, said, "Our clinical staff, and former clinical staff, can state with reasonable certainty that they worked with 22 cadets who were assaulted." Other cadets called but did not come into the clinic, she said.

An academy spokeswoman, Sgt. Marlise Wood, confirmed that the investigative team left Friday. She did not rule out that they may talk later with the clinic.

Former Air Force Captain Dorothy Mackey,who founded an advocacy group to track sexual assaults in the military, said the fact that investigators didn't talk with the clinic only proves the need for an outside investigation involving civilian prosecutors.

FMI: www.usafa.af.mil/flash.cfm