Alaska Governor Parnell Stonewalls National Guard Sexual Assault Scandal and Lawmakers Refuse to Act

[J_J_]

Earlier this year I received a loose-leaf notebook bulging with documents that detailed the sexual assault coverups and corruption in the Alaska National Guard. I spent a few months compiling information and interviewing as many people as would talk, trying to understand the players and the broad outlines of a mind-blowing scandal with real victims.

People talked to me even though they were afraid. Terrified, actually. For years those who had spoken up against crime in the guard had had their careers destroyed. Nevertheless, a handful of brave souls tried to sound the alarm -- even going directly the governor to enlist his help. They got nothing but retaliation.

After my first column on the scandal appeared in April, more victims contacted me. More documents showed up. Yet today, despite revelation after revelation of his failure to respond, Gov. Sean Parnell is still working overtime to hide the truth about what really happened. Not only did he shirk his responsibility for years, now he’s actively trying to hide and obfuscate his role in supporting and empowering the wrong-doers.

Our Alaska Guardsmen have been forced to make choices they should never have faced: "do what’s right" or "be loyal." Good people have been forced from service because they attempted to blow the whistle. Meanwhile, the perpetrators and enablers were given medals and promoted.

http://www.adn.com/article/20141011/parnell-stonewalls-guard-scandal-and-lawmakers-refuse-act

[Historic NY]

1. He has fired the commander.....looks like DOD is involved also

The Department of Defense’s Office of Complex Investigations prepared the report on allegations of sexual assault and fraud at Gov. Sean Parnell’s request. The governor released the report, which found victims do not trust the system because of a lack of confidence in the command, last month.

Parnell said he requested and received Katkus’ resignation. Parnell said the buck stopped with Katkus.

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20141012/NEWS02/310120022/Former-Alaska-Guard-member-says-he-reported-allegations

[J_J_]

2. Parnell waited years to take direct action on National Guard misconduct

Parnell waited years to take direct action on National Guard misconduct

The record shows that Parnell took nearly his entire four-year term to remove officials at the top of the guard and its related civilian department.

Parnell, officially the guard’s civilian commander, has acknowledged receiving complaints about deeply entrenched problems within guard leadership starting in 2010, but he said they lacked specifics.

The problems didn’t go away. More than three years later, on Feb. 28, Parnell called for help from the Pentagon.

http://www.adn.com/article/20141001/parnell-waited-years-take-direct-action-national-guard-misconduct

[J_J_]

3. Parnell won't release the info so there must be something he is covering up

Alaska Dispatch News sues Gov. Parnell for National Guard records

Alaska Dispatch News sued Gov. Sean Parnell on Wednesday, asking a judge to force the governor’s office to release public records related to the ongoing scandal within the Alaska National Guard.

The news organization, along with its co-plaintiff Alaska Public Media, claims the governor’s office has been wrongly denying public records requests that could help voters verify whether Parnell acted swiftly in dealing with numerous allegations about mishandled sexual assaults, harassment, fraud, favoritism and other misconduct, including abuse of power, within the guard over the past several years.

The two media outlets made the decision to sue after public records requests by their reporters were met with long delays and ultimately rejected by Randal Ruaro, the policy director and special counsel in the governor’s office, in broad-sweeping denial letters.

http://www.adn.com/article/20141008/alaska-dispatch-news-sues-gov-parnell-national-guard-records

[J_J_]

4. This should be a national news story- why doesn't anyone care about Alaska? Only Sarah Palin??

This Koch clone Republican asshole replacement of Sarah Palin is ten times worse if you can believe it.

He was chief lobbyist for Conoco Philips after he worked for Exxon in the Alaska oil spill against the people of Alaska.

He is the worst governor ever.


He gave an award to one of the criminals implicated in this!




Governor reviews award of medal to guardsman implicated in scandal


They say the governor should have known DeHaas did not deserve the Legion of Merit medal in 2011, as military investigators had previously substantiated that he violated federal ethical standards for several years, including by misusing helicopters and other vehicles.

And at least one whistle-blower – Lt. Col. Ken Blaylock – has said he sent a letter to the governor in 2010 detailing growing concerns about DeHaas.

Veterans for Accountability, Blaylock and others have said DeHaas was the subject of numerous complaints of misconduct by other officers before his retirement, which was announced in the guard’s Warriors fall 2011 publication.

http://www.adn.com/article/20141008/governor-reviews-award-medal-guardsman-implicated-scandal

Please help bring this to national attention with a kick and rec

[J_J_]

5. I guess we are all so used to sexual assault victims being ignored, murdered, coverups

just part of living in America now....

[J_J_]

6. kick

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