Air Force ‘deeply sorry’ about McSally ordeal
Senator revealed she was raped by superior officer
The U.S. Air Force said it is “appalled and deeply sorry” for the experiences of Sen. Martha McSally, who dramatically disclosed this week that she was raped by a superior officer while serving in the Air Force.
McSally, an Arizona Republican and the first woman to fly in combat, said during a Wednesday Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing that she was horrified at how her efforts to share her experiences were handled.
Capt. Carrie Volpe, an Air Force spokeswoman, said in a written statement that McSally’s experiences violate the values of the Air Force.
“The criminal actions reported today (Wednesday) by Sen. McSally violate every part of what it means to be an Airman,” Volpe said in the statement. “We are appalled and deeply sorry for what Sen. 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.”
McSally did not come forward right away because she felt ashamed and confused and did not trust that her story would be properly handled, she said. When she did come forward, “Like many victims, I felt like the system was raping me all over again,” she said in the hearing, pausing to maintain her composure.
McSally, 52, said she almost left the Air Force at 18 years of service over her despair over how her accusations were handled.
She did not name her assailant in her subcommittee comments.
“The perpetrators abused their position of power in profound ways,” she said. “In one case, I was preyed upon and raped by a superior officer.”
McSally on Thursday thanked the public on Twitter for their support. Many people – including those who do not support her politics – thanked her for showing the courage to share her story.
“Thank you for the outpouring of support,” she wrote. “It means a lot for all who have reached out.”
Cindy McCain, the widow of the Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who served as Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, said McSally’s bravery will help other women.
McSally was appointed to the Senate seat McCain once held following his death last year.
“Thank you @SenMcSallyAZ for your bravery,” Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. “Your courage will help thousands of women seek the help and justice they deserve.”
McSally, who grew up in Rhode Island, has cited her father’s death as a motivating force behind her career in the military.
In the Air Force, she rose to become the nation’s first woman fighter pilot to serve in combat.
She served six tours of duty, including flying 300 combat hours, and became the first woman to command a fighter squadron.
McSally retired in 2010 as a colonel before launching a political career. After an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2012, she won her 2014 campaign to represent the Tucson-based 2nd Congressional District.
She won re-election in 2016 before unsuccessfully running for the Senate in 2018. She was appointed to her current Senate seat in January.
McSally will run for election during a 2020 special election.