Tampa, Florida Woman Raped By KBR Employees

The Blotter reports an unidentified woman has been raped by by KBR employees in Ramadi, Iraq. Senator Bill Nelson's web site reports two woman from Houston and Tampa as rape victims. Nelson wrote a letter to Sec. of Defense Robert Gates.

I am deeply troubled by recent reports that at least two women who worked in Iraq under contractors for the Department of Defense were sexually assaulted by male
coworkers. Both women have filed lawsuits partly because they feel the criminal justice system has failed them.

I am enclosing a recent press report suggesting that in a 2005 case involving a Texas woman the U.S. Army turned a rape kit over to private security officers rather than to the proper authorities. In addition, the alleged victim in that case published a journal on the Internet suggesting that many other women have been raped in Iraq.

The Inspector General should immediately launch an investigation that thoroughly examines: 1) whether and why the results of the examination in question were turned over to a private company; 2) whether and how many other rape examinations were performed by military doctors in Iraq; and, 3) what steps the Department of Defense
has taken, in conjunction with victims and the Departments of State and Justice, to ensure the full investigation and prosecution of these cases under all applicable U.S. laws.

We need to know that there is a thorough and vigorous investigation of any and
all of these cases. I also would appreciate a detailed briefing on the Department of
Defense's role in investigating, prosecuting and resolving any such cases.

Surely the Defense Department is not going to use the lack of internet access as an excuse for not being aware of Jamie Leigh Jones's diary. With this administration it wouldn't shock me.

Nelson wrote another letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

1) Is it true that a Dallas U.S. Attorney has been investigating the case?

2) Is it true that NCIS conducted it's own investigationof this case?

a. If so, when did NCIS make its findings available to the
Department?

b. Are you aware of any other investigation of the Florida woman's allegations by any other entity, such as the State Department or Halliburton/KBR or one of its subsidiaries?

d. Have you instructed NCIS or any other agency that has conducted an investigation to withhold any reports that they have prepared from being released publicly, or have you instructed them to desist from conducting their own investigation?

3) Is the Department of Justice aware of any other allegations of sexual assault reported by women who worked for government contractors in Iraq?

a. If so, is the Department conducting a more Wide-ranging investigation?

b. What type of coordination has taken place among the Departments
of Justice, State and Defense regarding any investigation into the
various allegations of sexual assault that have been made?

"What type of coordination" is the wrong question. Rape caees need to be prosecuted immediately. The only DNA sample from Jones's rape that match was from a man using her bed. Kellogg Brown and Root were never legally forced to submit samples. Two years have past. The fact that the Justice Department and Pentagon have been these cases to rest says much about their collective commitment.