A previously undisclosed investigation found that for years the U.S. Coast Guard failed to properly review, prosecute and report cases of sexual assault on Connecticut Academy services, while some of the accused moved up the ranks, according to two U.S. senators who released documents Friday. demands and files on the sample.

The Coast Guard this month informally briefed Senate staff on “Operation Fouled Anchor,” an internal investigation that ran from 2014 to 2020.

had

identified 62 substantial incidents of rape, assault and sexual harassment from 1988 and 2006 that

which

took place at the

US

Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

ecticut

or by academy cadets.

Democratic

Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin said the investigation had not previously been disclosed to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which oversees the Coast Guard.

This information is disturbing, they write in a letter from Friday to Adm. Linda L. Fagan, commanding officer of the

US

Coast Guard.

They said the commission is seeking additional information to determine Coast Guard compliance and to inform possible legislative action.

In addition to all related documentation, they are seeking answers to questions including whether individuals with substantiated claims are now employed by the Department of Homeland Security, including the Coast Guard, and whether they have security clearances.

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the

US

Coast Guard Academy referred requests for comment to the

US

Coast Guard. A message has been left requesting comment.

the

Democratic

senators said in the letter they had been told

That

Substantiated claims may have been made against 42 individuals, but it appears that the Coast Guard was not investigating properly at the time the incidents were reported.

The Coast Guard’s investigation also found that academy leaders failed to respond to reports of rape, assault and harassment, and the Coast Guard chose not to investigate or punish those leaders, the senators said.

Two officers accused of misconduct were allowed to retire as commanders and are currently on retirement and veteran benefits, the senators said. Both individuals, the senators said, were confirmed by the Senate at least once during the course of the investigation.

The committee was not informed that the officers were under investigation when the Coast Guard provided the promotion lists to the Senate, resulting in their confirmation, they wrote. It is unclear how many other officers substantiated claims against them, went unpunished, and remained in command or management positions.

Federal officials are aware that sexual harassment has been a problem at the elite academy. A 2019 Pentagon survey found that nearly half of female cadets said they had been sexually harassed and about one in eight

women

reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact. Nearly 20% of male cadets reported experiencing sexual harassment.