In a stunning turn of events this week, Shannon Norenberg, the Coast Guard Academy official in charge of sexual assault prevention, resigned in protest, citing her unwilling participation in a cover-up. Norenberg stated, “I can no longer in good conscience be part of an organization that would betray me, betray victims of sexual assault, and betray the system I helped set up to hold perpetrators at the academy accountable.”
This latest development comes on the heels of a year-long investigation by CNN, which originally reported on the academy’s cover-up of decades of sexual assault incidents. The Coast Guard’s first female commandant, Adm. Linda Fagan, is scheduled to face tough questioning on Capitol Hill about why current or former leaders have not been held accountable for concealing misconduct.
CNN’s investigative team, including Melanie Hicken, Blake Ellis, Audrey Ash, Curt Devine, and Pamela Brown, have been diligently following this story since its inception. Their reporting began with a young woman named Hope Hicks, a student at the US Merchant Marine Academy, who bravely shared her story of sexual assault in a blog post. This led to an exploration of the maritime industry, ultimately uncovering a pattern of sexual assaults going unpunished under the Coast Guard’s oversight.
The heart of the scandal lies in Operation Fouled Anchor, an internal probe that exposed years of cover-ups within the Coast Guard. Despite findings of widespread sexual assault and attempts to downplay the investigation’s damning results, Coast Guard leaders chose to suppress the information. While the current leadership has issued apologies, they have been careful to avoid labeling the suppression of the investigation as a cover-up.
As investigations continue, cases from decades ago are being revisited. Victims of past assaults are coming forward, demanding justice for crimes that were previously ignored or overlooked. The Coast Guard is now under scrutiny for its handling of these cases and its commitment to addressing the pervasive issue of sexual assault within its ranks.
The upcoming congressional hearing will provide a platform for tough questions to be asked of Adm. Linda Fagan and other Coast Guard officials. The resignation of Shannon Norenberg serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for accountability and reform within the Coast Guard. The lingering question remains – how has a culture of cover-up persisted within the organization, and what steps will be taken to ensure a safer and more transparent environment for all members of the Coast Guard Academy?