Lawmakers push plan to aid CIA sexual assault victims

The House Intelligence Committee is pushing legislation to provide support to victims of sexual assault with the CIA, following employee testimony claiming the agency had mismanaged their claims.

Committee members have included a provision to establish an Office of the Victim and Whistleblower Counsel as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act, according to Politico. Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and ranking member Jim Himes, D-Conn., have spearheaded the effort.

It would further create a Special Victim Investigators group to investigate criminal allegations and work with law enforcement on such matters.

Since January of this year, at least three female CIA employees have claimed to be victims of sexual assault at the agency and approached the Intelligence Committee with allegations that the bureau discourages women from making claims.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.