Senators ask Perry to investigate sexual assault allegations at NNSS

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen sent a joint letter to the Department of Energy asking it to investigate allegations of sexual assault, harassment and retaliation at the Nevada National Security Site.

In a New York Times’ story published Jan. 25, Jennifer Glover, a former guard at the site, described a history of sexism and harassment during the time she was employed at the NNSS. Glover says she was sexually assaulted during a training exercise in 2017.

According to the article “one man ran his hands up her legs, she said, then grabbed her buttocks and groin. Another flipped her over, reached into her top to grab her breasts and ripped out her nipple ring.”

Both senators took to social media to decry the incident, but then sent an official letter to Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry Jan. 31 requesting he launch an investigation into this incident as well as give them quarterly updates on his review. 

“The actions described are unacceptable and require your immediate attention and swift action to protect the rights and safety of the survivor and to hold perpetrators accountable,” the senators wrote. “We urge you to immediately investigate this disturbing incident as well as initiate a thorough review of the broader existence of sexual assault and harassment by employees and contractors at the Nevada National Security Site and all facilities administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.”

Glover, who was fired around the same time the New York Times’ began investigating her story, has filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against two government contractors, Centerra and SOC.

According to the Times, Centerra declined to comment and SOC cited “significant inaccuracies in the facts and premise” but did not provide additional details to the Times.