Former Students Accuse U.S. Coast Guard Academy Of Alleged Sexual Assault, Demand $130 Million

Thirteen former U.S. Coast Guard Academy students have filed administrative claims demanding $130 Million in damages and accusing the academy of ignoring and allowing a culture of sexual abuse for nearly four decades.

The unusual case, initiated under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), is the first collective legal challenge against a U.S. service academy based on such allegations.

The complaints, filed with the U.S. Coast Guard, detail abuse and assaults from the mid-1980s to the present.

Christine Dunn of Sanford Heisler Sharp represents the group of 12 women and 1 man, each claiming $10 million in damages.

The former students allege that the academy in New London, Connecticut, failed to protect victims, punish perpetrators, or provide proper recourse, allowing sexual violence to continue unchecked.

The accusations came after a CNN report in August 2023 that exposed a cover-up of sexual assaults at the academy.

Later, the Senate subcommittee report revealed that the Coast Guard humiliated victims and handled perpetrators inadequately.

Additional reports revealed a June 2024 report denouncing the Coast Guard’s failure to maintain a safe culture for its cadets.

Dunn stated that the complaints are just the tip of the iceberg and that there are several who were sexually assaulted at the Coast Guard Academy but never got justice.

Dunn further hopes that the move will encourage more victims to come forward and hold the academy accountable.

The FTCA requires claimants to file administrative complaints before pursuing lawsuits in federal court. The Coast Guard has six months to review the allegations before they are taken to court.

The statute of limitations is one potential hurdle; however, Dunn believes that the clock didn’t start until the CNN report showed the extent of the abuse.

The U.S. Coast Guard has yet to comment on the specifics of the accusations, but it has reiterated its commitment to addressing these issues.

A spokesperson highlighted the service’s commitment to improve prevention, accountability and victim support while admitting past failures to provide a safe environment for cadets.

The case comes after prior legal actions against other U.S. service academies, including the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s internal investigation, known as Operation Fouled Anchor, reviewed over 100 cases of sexual assaults at the academy between the 1980s and the early 2000s, leading to new protocols and ongoing Congressional investigations.

More former cadets are expected to come forward as the legal proceedings continue.

Reference: Reuters

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