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Pentagon watchdog substantiates sexual harassment allegations against defense official forced out of job Pentagon watchdog substantiates sexual harassment allegations against defense official forced out of job
(about 2 hours later)
The Pentagon’s government watchdog has substantiated several allegations of sexual harassment against a former senior defense official who was forced out of his job, saying in a report released Wednesday that he “engaged in a pattern of misconduct” against women on his staff. The Pentagon’s government watchdog has substantiated several allegations of sexual harassment against a former senior defense official who was forced out of his job, saying in a report released Thursday that he “engaged in a pattern of misconduct” against women on his staff.
The Defense Department Inspector General’s office said that Guy B. Roberts, a former assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, hugged and touched subordinate employees inappropriately and made sexually suggestive comments. An investigation was opened in February, the report said, and Roberts resigned in April.The Defense Department Inspector General’s office said that Guy B. Roberts, a former assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, hugged and touched subordinate employees inappropriately and made sexually suggestive comments. An investigation was opened in February, the report said, and Roberts resigned in April.
The report said that investigators, overseen by acting inspector general Glenn Fine, determined that Roberts treated women on his staff differently from men, and “made deliberate, unwelcomed physical contact of a sexual nature by hugging, kissing or touching” three women. He also made “deliberate, repeated, and unwelcomed verbal comments of a sexual nature” to two of the women, the report said.The report said that investigators, overseen by acting inspector general Glenn Fine, determined that Roberts treated women on his staff differently from men, and “made deliberate, unwelcomed physical contact of a sexual nature by hugging, kissing or touching” three women. He also made “deliberate, repeated, and unwelcomed verbal comments of a sexual nature” to two of the women, the report said.
“Mr. Roberts’ actions and comments created an intimidating, hostile and offensive work environment for the three women,” the report said. “Mr. Roberts’ physical interaction and statements caused the three women to fear damage to their professional reputations and to fear being fired if they rejected his physical contact or complained about his behavior.”“Mr. Roberts’ actions and comments created an intimidating, hostile and offensive work environment for the three women,” the report said. “Mr. Roberts’ physical interaction and statements caused the three women to fear damage to their professional reputations and to fear being fired if they rejected his physical contact or complained about his behavior.”
Roberts told investigators that it was not his intention to sexually harass the employees, and that they did not tell him that they thought his behavior was inappropriate, the report said.Roberts told investigators that it was not his intention to sexually harass the employees, and that they did not tell him that they thought his behavior was inappropriate, the report said.
In a phone interview on Wednesday, Roberts said that “I almost feel like I’m in the same boat with Joe Biden,” a former vice president and presidential candidate who has defended himself against allegations of inappropriately hugging women. In a phone interview on Thursday, Roberts said that “I almost feel like I’m in the same boat with Joe Biden,” a former vice president and presidential candidate who has defended himself against allegations of inappropriately hugging women.
“As is often the case in these IG things, the standard of proof is a very low one,” Roberts said. “It turns into a situation where someone makes an allegation and you’re guilty until proven innocent.”“As is often the case in these IG things, the standard of proof is a very low one,” Roberts said. “It turns into a situation where someone makes an allegation and you’re guilty until proven innocent.”
Investigators interviewed 18 other people, including the three women, the report said. Several described inappropriate behavior.Investigators interviewed 18 other people, including the three women, the report said. Several described inappropriate behavior.
One woman alleged that Roberts repeatedly greeted or bid her farewell in private by hugging or kissing her. He also kissed her on the cheek and whispered “I love you” in her ear at a social event, and touched her on the thigh during a party in June 2018, she said.One woman alleged that Roberts repeatedly greeted or bid her farewell in private by hugging or kissing her. He also kissed her on the cheek and whispered “I love you” in her ear at a social event, and touched her on the thigh during a party in June 2018, she said.
The woman said Roberts invited her on dates for dinner and drinks, noted that he lived in an apartment without his wife, and expressed a desire to see her in a bikini, the report said.The woman said Roberts invited her on dates for dinner and drinks, noted that he lived in an apartment without his wife, and expressed a desire to see her in a bikini, the report said.
The woman said that after the first few instances of hugging and kissing in December 2017, she told him to stop. He later resumed the behavior, and she repeatedly asked him “to stop hugging and kissing her,” the report said.The woman said that after the first few instances of hugging and kissing in December 2017, she told him to stop. He later resumed the behavior, and she repeatedly asked him “to stop hugging and kissing her,” the report said.
“I felt like I ... couldn’t like slap him,” the woman told investigators, according to the report. “I mean, it didn’t warrant that. So that was the problem. In some ways, I almost felt like if he ... had been ... worse, you know, I could have been more like ‘get the hell away from me.’ ”“I felt like I ... couldn’t like slap him,” the woman told investigators, according to the report. “I mean, it didn’t warrant that. So that was the problem. In some ways, I almost felt like if he ... had been ... worse, you know, I could have been more like ‘get the hell away from me.’ ”
The woman recalled a specific incident in 2018 in which she told him that the behavior was inappropriate and that she was concerned that people would think they were in a relationship. He laughed at her, she reported, noting that they had known each other for years. Other employees saw them hugging and found it unusual, they reported to investigators.The woman recalled a specific incident in 2018 in which she told him that the behavior was inappropriate and that she was concerned that people would think they were in a relationship. He laughed at her, she reported, noting that they had known each other for years. Other employees saw them hugging and found it unusual, they reported to investigators.
Other women described similar behavior, including one instance in which Roberts allegedly lifted a necklace from one employee’s collar bone during a happy hour, touching her skin.Other women described similar behavior, including one instance in which Roberts allegedly lifted a necklace from one employee’s collar bone during a happy hour, touching her skin.
Roberts said Wednesday that he was asked to resign in April by Ellen Lord, an undersecretary of defense. He “categorically rejects” that he sexually harassed anyone, he said, and expressed surprise that the women did not speak up, although the report states that at least one of them did. Roberts said Thursday that he was asked to resign in April by Ellen Lord, an undersecretary of defense. He “categorically rejects” that he sexually harassed anyone, he said, and expressed surprise that the women did not speak up, although the report states that at least one of them did.
“She’s very assertive. She’s very strong-willed,” Roberts said of the woman involved in most of the allegations. “If she didn’t like something, I’m surprised she didn’t say it at the time.”“She’s very assertive. She’s very strong-willed,” Roberts said of the woman involved in most of the allegations. “If she didn’t like something, I’m surprised she didn’t say it at the time.”
Roberts, a retired Marine Corps colonel, noted that he served as a judge advocate officer.Roberts, a retired Marine Corps colonel, noted that he served as a judge advocate officer.
Asked whether he ever kissed or hugged subordinate employees, he initially said no, but added: “Let me caveat that,” explaining that generally it’s “quite common” to kiss as a greeting in Europe.Asked whether he ever kissed or hugged subordinate employees, he initially said no, but added: “Let me caveat that,” explaining that generally it’s “quite common” to kiss as a greeting in Europe.
“I certainly know what’s appropriate and what isn’t,” Roberts said. “But there you go.”“I certainly know what’s appropriate and what isn’t,” Roberts said. “But there you go.”