The Associated Press conducted an investigation revealing that sexual harassment continues to occur within the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), despite the agency's repeated commitments to eradicate sexual misconduct within its ranks.
The AP reported that a recent internal report, consisting of 648 pages, identified systemic failures in the CIA's handling of sexual harassment complaints.
This report follows a previous AP investigation that uncovered testimonies from at least 24 women within the CIA who reported experiencing sexual assault, harassment, and what they described as efforts to silence them.
Among the cases highlighted by the AP is that of a CIA officer named Donald Askew, who is accused of sexually harassing a colleague during a party held at one of the agency’s offices to celebrate his 50th birthday. The report states that Askew, under the influence of alcohol, lifted his colleague's skirt and forcibly kissed her in front of shocked coworkers.