Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, urging the Department to launch an investigation into the alleged sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation that took place before, during, and after November 2017 at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), according to a January 25th article in the New York Times. According to the article, a guard at the site, named Jennifer Glover, was fired after accusing her colleagues of sexual assault.
“We write to express our grave concern regarding the alleged sexual assault, harassment, and worker retaliation that took place surrounding the month of November 2017 at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), as reported in the New York Times on January 25, 2019. 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. 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 (DOE),” the senators wrote.
“We therefore ask you to launch an immediate investigation into this incident and request that you provide us with quarterly updates on your review of this matter and the changes you are making to ensure an environment free from harassment and gender-based discrimination,” the senators added.
The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear Secretary Perry:
We write to express our grave concern regarding the alleged sexual assault, harassment, and worker retaliation that took place surrounding the month of November 2017 at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), as reported in the New York Times on January 25, 2019. 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. 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 (DOE).
As referenced in the January 25th article, in November 2017 several male security guards working for Centerra Nevada, the contract company that formerly provided security and protective services at the Nevada National Security Site in Nye County, Nevada, allegedly violently assaulted a female guard onsite during a workplace training exercise. The article also references months of alleged harassment prior to the incident, as well as alleged harassment and retaliation following. The article further notes that the employee was subsequently terminated for “scheduling infractions”, following an investigation by the contracting company that resulted in few, if any, consequences for the individuals involved in the alleged harassment and assault.
We are greatly alarmed by these allegations, and are concerned by the article’s description of a work environment that was marked by “an entrenched culture of discrimination and retaliation,” particularly at a highly-sensitive facility that is central to our national defense. As the chief administrator of this facility and numerous other invaluable assets around the country, your leadership is vital to ensuring a safe and professional work environment for the employees and contractors under your purview, as well as maintaining the security of the entire country. We therefore ask you to launch an immediate investigation into this incident and request that you provide us with quarterly updates on your review of this matter and the changes you are making to ensure an environment free from harassment and gender-based discrimination. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen
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