US Coast Guard boss says she is not trying to hide the branch’s failure to handle sex assault cases

The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard tried Tuesday to assure skeptical and frustrated U.S. senators that she is not attempting to cover up the branch’s failure to adequately handle cases of sexual assault and harassment at the service academy in Connecticut.

Admiral Linda L. Fagan said she is committed to “transparency and accountability” within the Coast Guard and is trying to cooperate with congressional investigations and provide requested documents while also abiding by the constraints of an ongoing Office of Inspector General investigation and victim privacy concerns.

“This is not a cover-up. I am committed to providing documents in good faith,” she told the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations during a 90-minute hearing in Washington. “This is an incredible organization… I am committed to bringing the organization forward and making the culture change necessary.”

Both Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the subcommittee chair, and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the ranking member, expressed frustration with the lack of documents provided to senators so far as well as the heavy redaction of documents that have been provided.

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