Arizona senator Martha McSally says she was raped while in Air Force

Arizona Senator Martha McSally, the first woman to fly in combat for the US AirForce, says that she was raped by a superior officer while in the service.

Sen. Martha McSally

Sen. Martha McSally Source: AP

Martha McSally, who spent 26 years in the Air Force and commanded a fighter squadron, has revealed details of her attack in emotional remarks during a Senate subcommittee hearing on sexual assault in the military.

"I am also a military sexual assault survivor but unlike so many brave survivors I didn't report being sexually assaulted," first-term Republican senator Ms McSally said.

"Like so many women and men I didn't trust the system at the time.

Sen. Martha McSally
Sen. Martha McSally Source: AP


"I blame myself. I was ashamed and confused. And I thought I was strong but felt powerless.

"The perpetrators abused their position of power in profound ways.

"And in one case I was preyed upon and then raped by a superior officer."

McSally, 52, said she kept quiet about the assault for many years.

"But later in my career, as the military grappled with scandals and their wholly inadequate responses, I felt the need to let some people know - I too was a survivor," she said.



McSally said she considered leaving the military after the assault.

"I almost separated from the Air Force at 18 years over my despair," she said. "Like many victims I felt the system was raping me all over again.



"But I didn't quit," she said. "I decided to stay and continue to serve and fight and lead, to be a voice from within the ranks for women and then in the House and then in the Senate."

McSally lost a close race in November to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema but was later appointed by the Arizona governor to fill the seat once held by John McCain, who died in August. 

She is expected to contend for the Senate again in 2020 and may face a potentially tough race against former astronaut and US Navy veteran Mark Kelly, who is seeking the Democratic nomination.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who is also a military veteran, revealed earlier this year that she had been raped while in college.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP, SBS


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world