Bush Admin Misses Deadline to Respond to Halliburton/KBR Rape Questions

Posted by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress at 12:04 PM on January 3, 2008.

The Justice Dept. has refused to bring criminal charges against anyone, and it appears that no “federal agency [is] investigating the case."

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Rape Victim Testifies Before House Judiciary Committee About Halliburton/KBR

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Last month, ABC News reported that a former Halliburton/KBR employee, Jamie Leigh Jones, had been gang-raped by her co-workers while working in Baghdad. She was then left by the company in a "shipping container for at least 24 hours without food or water."

Shortly after the news broke, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "requesting details on how many Americans in Iraq had reported being sexually assaulted or abused, how they were investigated, and if any had been recommended for prosecution." He gave the State Department a deadline of Dec. 21 to respond. Yet according to Nelson's office, the senator has not yet received any response:

He has not received a reply, a spokesman confirmed. ... Nor has Nelson received replies from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates or Attorney General Michael Mukasey, to whom he also wrote asking for information and assistance, according to the lawmaker's spokesman.

[...]

Asked about missing that deadline, a State Department spokesman told ABC News, "If the senator has asked questions, I'm quite sure we will provide answers. But it's not something I could discuss with you."

Former Halliburton/KBR employees have described an atmosphere of "rampant sexual harassment." Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) has also confirmed that his office has heard from multiple other women who were victims of sexual assault while working for KBR in Iraq.

The refusal of the Bush administration to respond to Nelson's request mirrors its foot-dragging on Jones's case over the past two years. Despite Poe's involvement in the case, the Justice Department has refused to bring criminal charges against anyone, and it appears that no "federal agency [is] investigating the case."

Last month, the Justice Department also refused to send a representative to answer questions on the case before the House Judiciary Committee. "This is an absolute disgrace," remarked chairman John Conyers (D-MI).

Tagged as: rape, halliburton, kbr

Amanda Terkel is Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Deputy Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.

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Is anyone surprised? [Report this comment] Posted by: JoshuaLudd on Jan 3, 2008 12:09 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I know I'm not. Bush has been a day late and a dollar short on just about every investigation there has been on anything. Need we really even go through the political pantomime of pretending this administration has some concept of and concern with the rule of law when we all know they bloody well don't? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Is anyone surprised? Posted by: gregii » RE: Is anyone surprised? Posted by: Truelass NO SURPRISE HERE [Report this comment] Posted by: VZEQICVA on Jan 3, 2008 2:16 PM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] They don't respond to anything and apparently it's OK. There are no consequences to anything they do or don't do. No wonder the job appeals to so many people. Thanks, ANNA [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Throw another obstruction of justice log onto the impeachment bon fire [Report this comment] Posted by: Rune on Jan 3, 2008 4:54 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Remember when Bush-the-Bully was puffing up his chest and spouting off inflammatory zingers about smoking out the evil doers? Given the circumstances and the cast of characters involved, it was easy to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Now, however, would be a great time to smoke out our own evil doer in chief and his partner in crime who hides in undisclosed military facilities instead of caves in far away mountains. IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY. NOW! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Throw another obstruction of justice log onto the impeachment bon fire Posted by: luzmejor » RE: Throw another obstruction of justice log onto the impeachment bon fire Posted by: mainspark respond? [Report this comment] Posted by: cwilsondrum on Jan 3, 2008 6:11 PM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I agree with one of the other remarks, no consequences,no response. quit wringing your hands and fucking do something!!!!!!!! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Use the time-honored method [Report this comment] Posted by: GarrisonPayneLeonard38H on Jan 4, 2008 9:17 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I don't know what all the fuss is about, since no Yalies were harmed, and the flow of profits has not been interrupted, but if you must do something, there are two choices: 1. Cut a no-bid contract with Blackwater to investigate KBR. That should set us back no more than $300,000,000.00 OR: 2. Invade Iran. Seriously, who can doubt the intentions of a crew as inhuman as the Bushites. I'm hardly surprised by any of their long list of disgraces. That's the kind of people they are. The only difference between the Bushite cons and their friends the Saudis is that the Wahabis would have executed the rape victim. I would not place much reliance on that difference. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid need to go, NOW! [Report this comment] Posted by: rjgwood on Jan 4, 2008 9:48 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] This is an absolute disgrace and embarrassment. That poor women suffers from a brutal gang rape so severe she must have reconstructive surgeries on her breasts, is given a rape drug, locked in a trailer under armed company guards, and NOTHING is done? Where does the buck stop? Apparently the Bush Administration is given carte blanche by Nancy & Harry to continue to victimize people and our country. Nancy and Harry must go. The people of Nevada and the people of California's 8th Congressional District (hello, San Francisco???) need to get up in arms and get these two MFs out, NOW! I don't care if there is another election in '08. These two need to be punished by being thrown out of office, and then criminally investigated w/ the Bush gang because they are complicit in their crimes! Wake up, people. Don't get sidetracked by the election. These people need to be held accountable right now! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] we must indict bush admin ourselves - us in usa we're it [Report this comment] Posted by: melindyrose on Jan 4, 2008 9:55 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] there's no one left - that's why we need a trial lawyer if there is ever a free election on this planet again in any of our lifetimes. it takes courage to tell this story, and she is anita hilled. shame on us. lets IMPEACH CHENEY first he's the dog who is on the halliburton payroll the tailhook rapists were investigated - we have to sue these crooks and perverts ourselves - lets get on it [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] And still the NYT ignores this story [Report this comment] Posted by: wagadog on Jan 4, 2008 12:08 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The NYT has not printed a single word on this story. And now they go and hire Kristol as an op-ed blatherer. Alternet certainly has more credibility than the New York Times at this point. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: The NY Times Condones Corporate Gang Rape.. Posted by: TJ-stars4peace » RE: And still the NYT ignores this story Posted by: Lauren JAMIE SHOULD HAVE CAPPED THEIR ASSES [Report this comment] Posted by: nikolai on Jan 5, 2008 12:17 PM Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] while she was still in Iraq. Now THAT would have been justice, and it would have been covered up as well. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Imagine My Surprise [Report this comment] Posted by: Denver Dem on Jan 5, 2008 12:56 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Republicans have no moral high ground, in fact they have no morals period. Their god is $$$$$$$$$$ and they will lie, steal, murder, rape, cheat, and anything else to get their vile hands on the power lever. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Texas Oil Criminals Stick Together..! [Report this comment] Posted by: TJ-stars4peace on Jan 5, 2008 8:25 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] That scum bag Schumer stuck us with as an Attorney General is still trying to decide if rape is actually rape..! KBR is a criminal organization and in this case so is Halliburton the obstruction of Justice and as well as acting as an accessory after the fact goes all the way to the top.. Our Texas Oil Criminal Government can't arrest their Texas Oil criminal partner.. Now we see Republican/ Texas Family Values..for what it is.. Total Criminal Scumbag Bullshit.. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: Is anyone surprised? Posted by: gregii

» RE: Is anyone surprised? Posted by: Truelass

» RE: Throw another obstruction of justice log onto the impeachment bon fire Posted by: luzmejor

» RE: Throw another obstruction of justice log onto the impeachment bon fire Posted by: mainspark

» RE: The NY Times Condones Corporate Gang Rape.. Posted by: TJ-stars4peace

» RE: And still the NYT ignores this story Posted by: Lauren

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