WASHINGTON — More than a dozen U.S. veterans who say they were raped or assaulted by comrades filed a class-action suit in federal court Tuesday attempting to force the Pentagon to change how it handles such cases.
The current and former service members — 15 women and two men — describe circumstances in which servicemen allegedly got away with rape and other sexual abuse while the victims were ordered to continue to serve with them.
The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld.
The plaintiffs say individual commanders have too much say in how allegations are handled and that they want reforms in the system.
The alleged attackers include an Army criminal investigator and an Army National Guard commander.
In one incident, an Army Reservist says two male colleagues raped her in Iraq and videotaped the attack. She complained to authorities after the men circulated the video to colleagues. Despite being bruised from her shoulders to elbows from being held down, she says charges weren’t filed because the commander determined she “did not act like a rape victim” and “did not struggle enough” and authorities said they didn’t want to delay the scheduled return of the alleged attackers to the U.S.
