by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
Nearly one-third of CIA employees have reported experiencing inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace at least once during their careers, according to the agency’s first internal survey, which was shared exclusively with CNN.
The report indicates that the CIA is facing a significant moment of reckoning regarding sexual harassment, similar to the #MeToo movement that began in the entertainment industry in 2017, which led to the conviction of filmmaker Harvey Weinstein.
CIA Chief Operating Officer Maura Burns, who is not related to Director William Burns, acknowledged the agency’s shortcomings, stating, “We are not where we need to be, and I don’t need a survey to tell me that.”
Participation in the voluntary survey was relatively low, with only 25% of employees responding. Among those, 28% reported experiencing at least one incident of a sexually hostile work environment during their time at the CIA, while 9% reported such incidents in the past year.
CNN noted that these figures are “slightly higher than the national average” but lower than those reported by the U.S. military, highlighting ongoing cultural issues within the agency based in Langley, Virginia.
One troubling case involves an officer who allegedly knowingly transmitted a sexually transmitted disease to at least five women; he remains employed and is under investigation. Additionally, a female contractor has filed a lawsuit against a senior CIA officer, accusing him of coercing her into sexual relations, including incidents involving threats with a firearm and a knife. Reports indicate that this officer has been dismissed.
Recently, a federal court sentenced a former CIA officer to 30 years in prison for multiple sexual offenses, including the rape of four women and the sexual abuse of six others during his service in Latin America.
To address these issues, Maura Burns has established a Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office (SHARP). During a recent town hall, Burns and SHARP director Dr. Taleta Jackson provided guidance on reporting harassment while maintaining operational security.
However, a complaint from one alleged victim claimed that she was advised by management to mislead police regarding her and her assaulter’s connections to the agency, threatening her with allegations of mishandling classified information if she did not comply.