HILL AIR FORCE BASE — An official at Hill Air Force Base has been removed from their position after downplaying sexual harassment complaints that were eventually proven to be true. Two other base officials were also disciplined over mistakes made by the pair.
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The unidentified individual was the Director of the base's Equal Opportunity Office. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel report led to the reassignment of the official to an area where they will no longer have influence over harassment claims.
According to the report, the EEO Director attempted to discourage employees from filing complaints, going as far as telling one person that their allegations “wouldn’t carry weight” and “wouldn’t go anywhere.”
The director also knowingly lied to a whistleblower, telling them they did not have the right to remain anonymous when filing a complaint.
An investigation was started when several people came forward detailing the mishandling of sexual harassment and discrimination cases.
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"I am disappointed that the USAF's report - despite acknowledging a plethora of legal violations and other egregious conduct - stops short of acknowledging the Director's culpability for [their] actions, often attributing [their] conduct to "negligence" and misunderstanding, despite [their] approximately 21 years of EEO experience." said Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner in a letter to President Donald Trump/
The Salt Lake Tribune reports the Air Force opened a separate inquiry into two attorney's within the Hill Air Force Base Civil Law Division due to their "competence and candor."
The EEO Director was also issued a "Letter of Counseling" as part of the corrective actions taken by the special counsel.
