Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., said Wednesday she was raped by a superior officer during her service as an Air Force pilot.
McSally did not disclose the identity of the officer and said she did not report the incident because she “didn’t trust the system” and was “ashamed and confused.”
“I stayed silent for many years, but later in my career, as the military grappled with the scandals, and their wholly inadequate responses, I felt the need to let some people know I too was a survivor,” McSally said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing about how to combat sexual assault in the military.
“I was horrified at how my attempt to share generally my experiences was handled. I almost separated from the Air Force at 18 years of service over my despair. Like many victims, I felt like the system was raping me all over again,” McSally said.
WATCH: Complete statement from @SenMcSallyAZ: “I was preyed upon and then raped by a superior officer.” pic.twitter.com/0PoL0rUpKT
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 6, 2019
McSally, 52, who was the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat, urged military leaders to help combat the problem and said they must “live up to the moral and legal responsibilities that come with being a commander.”
“We must fix those distortions in the culture of our military that permit sexual harm towards women and, yes, some men as well,” she said.
The Air Force issued a statement later Wednesday apologizing for McSally’s experience and voicing the branch’s support for her and other victims.
“The criminal actions reported today by Senator McSally violate every part of what it means to be an Airman,” the statement read. “We are appalled and deeply sorry for what Senator 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 joined the Air Force in 1988 and retired in 2010 after obtaining the rank of colonel. She served as U.S. congresswoman from Arizona for two terms and lost a Senate bid to Kyrsten Sinema in 2018. McSally was appointed to her seat in the Senate by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to replace former Republican Sen. Jon Kyl.
McSally’s disclosure comes less than two months after combat veteran and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she was raped as a college student at Iowa State University.
