Murkowski Questions Differing Findings of Alaska National Guard Investigations
Senator Calls on DoD to Reconcile “Diametrically Opposite Conclusions” of Dual Reports
Senator Lisa Murkowski today called upon the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoDIG) to reexamine the evidence and conclusions of its investigation into misconduct of the Alaska National Guard done at her request – which concluded the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct within the Guard were unsubstantiated – seeking accountability and transparency of the review processes.
With the release of the National Guard Bureau Office of Complex Investigations (OCI) report in September finding serious offenses and misdoings, Murkowski wrote a letter to the DODIG (attached) asking how two reviews of the same allegations reached different conclusions, writing:
“It is my judgment that the striking difference between the conclusions of the largely redacted Army/DoDIG report and the unredacted OCI report requires further scrutiny and justification. It seems highly irregular that two inquiries conducted during roughly the same timeframe by professional military investigators would reach diametrically opposite conclusions. I would therefore ask that your office reexamine the evidence and conclusions reached in the Army/DoDIG investigation, as well as the rigor of that investigation, in an effort to reconcile the differences.”
Timeline of the dual investigations:
- June 12, 2013—Allegations of sexual misconduct, misuse of funds, and toxic command climate brought to Senator Murkowski’s attention by Alaska National Guard chaplains.
- June 19, 2013—Murkowski requests investigation by the independent Department of Defense Inspector General.
- May 21, 2014—Murkowski informed by the DoDIG that the investigation was complete.
- July 2, 2014—Report made available to Senator Murkowski, which found the “[Alaska National Guard] command climate sensing sessions did not identify concerns regarding sexual assault or sexual harassment”.
- September 4, 2014—National Guard Bureau Office of Complex Investigations report (requested by Governor Parnell) released, reaching opposite conclusions than the DoDIG report.
