Gang-Rape Cover-Up by U.S., Halliburton/KBR

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deep

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Victim: Gang-Rape Cover-Up by U.S., Halliburton/KBR

abc_jones2_071210_ms.jpg


KBR Told Victim She Could Lose Her Job If She Sought Help After Being Raped, She Says

By BRIAN ROSS, MADDY SAUER & JUSTIN ROOD

Dec. 10, 2007—

A Houston, Texas woman says she was gang-raped by Halliburton/KBR coworkers in Baghdad, and the company and the U.S. government are covering up the incident.

Jamie Leigh Jones, now 22, says that after she was raped by multiple men at a KBR camp in the Green Zone, the company put her under guard in a shipping container with a bed and warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she'd be out of a job.

"Don't plan on working back in Iraq. There won't be a position here, and there won't be a position in Houston," Jones says she was told.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court against Halliburton and its then-subsidiary KBR, Jones says she was held in the shipping container for at least 24 hours without food or water by KBR, which posted armed security guards outside her door, who would not let her leave.

"It felt like prison," says Jones, who told her story to ABC News as part of an upcoming "20/20" investigation. "I was upset; I was curled up in a ball on the bed; I just could not believe what had happened."

Finally, Jones says, she convinced a sympathetic guard to loan her a cell phone so she could call her father in Texas.

"I said, 'Dad, I've been raped. I don't know what to do. I'm in this container, and I'm not able to leave,'" she said. Her father called their congressman, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas.

"We contacted the State Department first," Poe told ABCNews.com, "and told them of the urgency of rescuing an American citizen" -- from her American employer.

Poe says his office contacted the State Department, which quickly dispatched agents from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to Jones' camp, where they rescued her from the container.

According to her lawsuit, Jones was raped by "several attackers who first drugged her, then repeatedly raped and injured her, both physically and emotionally."

Jones told ABCNews.com that an examination by Army doctors showed she had been raped "both vaginally and anally," but that the rape kit disappeared after it was handed over to KBR security officers.

A spokesperson for the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security told ABCNews.com he could not comment on the matter.

Over two years later, the Justice Department has brought no criminal charges in the matter. In fact, ABC News could not confirm any federal agency was investigating the case.

Legal experts say Jones' alleged assailants will likely never face a judge and jury, due to an enormous loophole that has effectively left contractors in Iraq beyond the reach of United States law.

"It's very troubling," said Dean John Hutson of the Franklin Pierce Law Center. "The way the law presently stands, I would say that they don't have, at least in the criminal system, the opportunity for justice."

Congressman Poe says neither the departments of State nor Justice will give him answers on the status of the Jones investigation.

Asked what reasons the departments gave for the apparent slowness of the probes, Poe sounded frustrated.

"There are several, I think, their excuses, why the perpetrators haven't been prosecuted," Poe told ABC News. "But I think it is the responsibility of our government, the Justice Department and the State Department, when crimes occur against American citizens overseas in Iraq, contractors that are paid by the American public, that we pursue the criminal cases as best as we possibly can and that people are prosecuted."

Since no criminal charges have been filed, the only other option, according to Hutson, is the civil system, which is the approach that Jones is trying now. But Jones' former employer doesn't want this case to see the inside of a civil courtroom.

KBR has moved for Jones' claim to be heard in private arbitration, instead of a public courtroom. It says her employment contract requires it.

In arbitration, there is no public record nor transcript of the proceedings, meaning that Jones' claims would not be heard before a judge and jury. Rather, a private arbitrator would decide Jones' case. In recent testimony before Congress, employment lawyer Cathy Ventrell-Monsees said that Halliburton won more than 80 percent of arbitration proceedings brought against it.

In his interview with ABC News, Rep. Poe said he sided with Jones.

"Air things out in a public forum of a courtroom," said Rep. Poe. "That's why we have courts in the United States."

In her lawsuit, Jones' lawyer, Todd Kelly, says KBR and Halliburton created a "boys will be boys" atmosphere at the company barracks which put her and other female employees at great risk.

"I think that men who are there believe that they live without laws," said Kelly. "The last thing she should have expected was for her own people to turn on her."

Halliburton, which has since divested itself of KBR, says it "is improperly named" in the suit.

In a statement, KBR said it was "instructed to cease" its own investigation by U.S. government authorities "because they were assuming sole responsibility for the criminal investigations."

"The safety and security of all employees remains KBR's top priority," it said in a statement. "Our commitment in this regard is unwavering."

Since the attacks, Jones has started a nonprofit foundation called the Jamie Leigh Foundation, which is dedicated to helping victims who were raped or sexually assaulted overseas while working for government contractors or other corporations.

"I want other women to know that it's not their fault," said Jones. "They can go against corporations that have treated them this way." Jones said that any proceeds from the civil suit will go to her foundation.

"There needs to be a voice out there that really pushed for change," she said. "I'd like to be that voice."
 
come to think of it, my post was inappropriate. not the time for an anti-Iraq war ironic point.
 
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Victim: Gang Rape Cover-Up by U.S., Halliburton/KBR

Jones, who told her story to ABC News as part of an upcoming "20/20" investigation, said an examination by Army doctors after the incident showed she had been raped "both vaginally and anally," but that the rape kit disappeared after it was handed over to KBR security officers.

Victim: Gang Rape Cover-Up by U.S., Halliburton/KBR

But Rep. Poe, whose office contacted the State Department to rescue Jones from the container, says neither the departments of State nor Justice will give him answers on the status of the Jones investigation. Frustrated, Poe told ABC News, "I think it is the responsibility of our government, the Justice Department and the State Department, when crimes occur against American citizens overseas in Iraq, contractors that are paid by the American public, that we pursue the criminal cases as best as we possibly can and that people are prosecuted."

abc_9Jamie2_071203_ssh.jpg


Since the attack, Jones has started a nonprofit foundation called the Jamie Leigh Foundation, which is dedicated to helping victims who have been raped or sexually assaulted overseas while working for government contractors or other corporations. "There needs to be a voice out there that really pushed for change," she said. "I'd like to be that voice."
 
Irvine511 said:
come to think of it, my post was inappropriate. not the time for an anti-Iraq war ironic point.

well

then my post is wrong, too


Rummy does not support rape, (for Americans)

non Americans? torture / rape :shrug:


and no accountability for contractors

these rapers have immunity

should we even care?


why this time?

oh, she is not Muslim
 
and i just don't know where this thread is going to go ... going to tread lightly for now ... erm, "the surge is working?"
 
It is obvious she got drunk and put out with all these guys (IT WAS CONSENSUAL!!!)


and then when she realized she was a slut

she decided to blackmailed them
 
deep said:
It is obvious she got drunk and put out with all these guys (IT WAS CONSENSUAL!!!)


and then when she realized she was a slut

she decided to blackmailed them



once again, we realize the importance of unit cohesion, and the fact that men can't be allowed to shower with the gays because this sort of thing will continue to happen.
 
Who are you going to believe?

Heroic men that are putting their lives on the line for God and Country

or

abc_jones2_071210_ms.jpg


A woman that looks like she is from an Escort Service?
 
Moonlit_Angel said:
Indeed. I hope they get the proper punishment for this. That's awful, I"m sorry for what happened to her :(. I'm glad to see she's speaking out.

Angela

In the October issue of Vanity Fair, I was so outraged by an article I read regarding the billions of taxpayers money stolen, transferred to off shore banks or just given out by the millions to contractors, I thought it was inconceivable.

Of course that was before I read about the above.

That article stated:
In one of his last offical acts before leaving Bagdad, Bremer issued an order - prepared by the Pentagon, he says - declaring that all coalition force members "shall be immune from any form of
arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their Sending States" Contractors also got the same get-out-of-jail- free card. According to Bremer's order, "contractors shall be immune from"
...basically everything.
*****
How the hell can this happen. We, a civilized country being run by and to a greater extent, represented by - despots.
That makes us no better than the countries we are trying to defend against these types of atrocities.
I really just don't know what else to do, say or write to someone about. Just doesn't seem it will do any good.

It's completely reprehensible.
 
sue4u2 said:
In the October issue of Vanity Fair, I was so outraged by an article I read regarding the billions of taxpayers money stolen, transferred to off shore banks or just given out by the millions to contractors, I thought it was inconceivable.

Of course that was before I read about the above.

That article stated:
In one of his last offical acts before leaving Bagdad, Bremer issued an order - prepared by the Pentagon, he says - declaring that all coalition force members "shall be immune from any form of
arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their Sending States" Contractors also got the same get-out-of-jail- free card. According to Bremer's order, "contractors shall be immune from"
...basically everything.

Wow. That's really classy, lemme tell ya :|.

Despite that, I still hope she gives them some serious hell, 'cause quite frankly, they need it. There's no excuse for this. None.

Angela
 
Moonlit_Angel said:


Wow. That's really classy, lemme tell ya :|.

Despite that, I still hope she gives them some serious hell, 'cause quite frankly, they need it. There's no excuse for this. None.

Angela

You're right :up: ... and even though I have these moments of feeling totally inadequate to do anything... I'll keep fighting and writing and ranting untill I loose my right or mind, to do so.
 
ABC News: The Blotter
Another KBR Rape Claim Brings Scrutiny

December 13, 2007

Justin Rood Reports:

Congress is asking questions about another ex-employee of government contracting firm KBR who claims she was raped in Iraq.

Letters to the Pentagon and the Justice Department today from Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. underscore congressional concern about a second alleged assault, this time of a woman from Florida who reportedly worked for a KBR subsidiary in Ramadi, Iraq in 2005.

"I am deeply troubled by recent reports that at least two women who worked in Iraq under contractors for the Department of Defense were sexually assaulted by male coworkers," Nelson wrote Defense Secretary Robert Gates Thursday.

In particular, Nelson expressed concern that in the case of Jamie Leigh Jones, the U.S. Army doctor who examined her turned over the rape examination kit, thought to contain useful evidence, to KBR officials. In the letter, Nelson also asked for an investigation to determine how many rape examinations were performed by U.S. military doctors in Iraq, and what was being done to ensure the cases were prosecuted.

In a separate letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Nelson asked why there has been no criminal prosecution in the case of the alleged Florida victim. The woman, reportedly now 41, has alleged she was raped in her living quarters. She has sued KBR and Halliburton in civil court, but the judge ordered the case into private arbitration.

Contacted Thursday, the woman's lawyer said the rules of arbitration prohibit her from discussing the case or making her client available for an interview.

In the woman's complaint, filed earlier this year, she alleges that in December 2005 a drunken KBR co-worker let himself into her living quarters and raped her. The woman worked as a Morale, Welfare and Recreation Coordinator in Ramadi, according to news accounts and Nelson's letter.

In a statement, KBR said it "in no way condones or tolerates any form of sexual harassment." It declined to comment on the Florida case, "as this matter is the subject of ongoing litigation."
 
Just watched ABC's 20-20 interview with Jamie Leigh Jones.
Reportedly she's going before a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill next week.
That was a quick segment. Less than 15 minutes.
There wasn't anymore than what has been told here.
Congress is reportedly outraged!
But since the rape kit was given to KBR security and has since disappeared, who knows.
I Truly hope she can get justice.
 
I saw it, too.

There was a second woman that came forward and reported physical harassment and worse, nothing was done. It was covered up and she was blamed.

But what is the magnitude?

Is this really that bad?
 
KBR hearing centers on handling of rape kit


By DAVID IVANOVICH
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle


ALLEGED RAPE IN IRAQ

Former KBR employee tells her story WASHINGTON — A former KBR worker who says she was gang raped while working in Iraq told a House panel Wednesday that an Army doctor who examined her after the alleged assault turned the physical evidence over to KBR security personnel.

And at some point, some of the medical evidence apparently went missing.

Jamie Leigh Jones, 23, formerly of Conroe, was calm and controlled as she told a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security how her life changed in July 2005.

Four days after arriving at Camp Hope in Baghdad's "Green Zone" to work for the Pentagon's largest military contractor, Jones accepted a drink from a group of company firefighters.

"I believed that we were all on the same team," she said.

She awoke the next day, bruised and bleeding between her legs. She was taken to an Army support hospital and examined. The physician, Jones said, told her it was apparent she had been raped.

The doctor took photographs and prepared what's known as a "rape kit," containing forensic evidence, and handed the materials over to KBR security personnel, Jones told the panel.

KBR spokeswoman Heather Browne, in an e-mail Wednesday, said a company security coordinator "was given the sexual assault examination kit by the Army hospital upon Ms. Jones' release from the hospital.

"The kit was transported with Ms. Jones back to Camp Hope and was placed in a safe in the KBR security department's office," Browne said. "The kit was released by KBR Security to State Department investigators when the investigators arrived three hours after the kit was received. KBR Security secured a signed property/evidence receipt from the State Department."

Jones said she spoke earlier this year with a special agent of the State Department Diplomatic Security — the State Department's law enforcement arm — who was unaware of the rape kit's existence.

Eventually, the agent found the kit, but the photographs and doctor's notes were missing, Jones said.


KBR officials say they have no knowledge of any materials that have gone missing. KBR declined to address other specifics from Jones' testimony, citing ongoing litigation.

Is it really that bad?

I wonder what really happened?

Remember the Duke case.

If she can't prove her case.

No evidence - no case.

They are innocent.

Aren't we making a molehill out of a mountain?
 
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