Halliburton Under Fire Over Rape Charge

Former Contractor Claims She Was Raped, Locked Up By Co-Workers In Baghdad

(CBS/AP)  Halliburton, the company with $2 billion in Iraq contracts, is accused of once again joining the U.S. government in covering up a terrible crime by some employees.

Jamie Leigh Jones, now 22-years-old, was working for Halliburton in Baghdad when she says a group of co-workers sexually assaulted her and then locked her in a shipping container under guard without food or water. She remained there until she convinced a sympathetic guard to sneak her a cell phone so she could call her father in Texas.

Jones' father then called their congressman, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas. Poe said he contacted the State Department, which dispatched agents to rescue Jones.

"Within 48 hours, they had gone to Baghdad, two agents found her, rescued her, got her to an Army hospital, got her medical needs taken care of and she was brought back home," Poe told CBS' The Early Show on Wednesday.

But, Poe says, "Once she got back, that's when things seemed to stop. We could not get any satisfaction from the State Department on who these people were that assaulted her, where they were."

However, he says, now that Jones has made the allegations public, "I expect things are moving much faster."

"We're going to get some answers," Poe said.

On Tuesday, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee asked the Justice Department to give a full account of its investigation into the matter.

Jones filed a federal lawsuit in May against Halliburton Co., its former subsidiary, KBR Inc. and others claiming she was raped by co-workers while working at Camp Hope, Baghdad, in 2005.

In a letter dated Tuesday, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey if his office had investigated Jones' claims and whether the Justice Department has jurisdiction to prosecute under military provisions of the USA Patriot Act.

Conyers also seeks clarification on a statement from KBR, the military contractor that split from Halliburton in April, that says it had initiated investigations into the alleged assault but later halted the probe.

KBR has said it was "instructed to cease by government authorities because they were assuming sole responsibility for the criminal investigations."

Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said Tuesday the agency was reviewing Conyers' letter. "The Department is investigating this matter and because it's an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further," Carr said.

Jones' case got renewed attention this week after ABC News previewed a report of the allegations it plans to air on "20/20" next month.

Jones began working for KBR as an administrative assistant in 2004 when she was 19, but later transferred to Iraq with another Halliburton subsidiary, according to her lawsuit.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Beaumont, claims Jones lived in a co-ed barracks and, after enduring harassment from some of the men in the quarters, was drugged and raped July 28, 2005. Her attackers were Halliburton and KBR firefighters, the suit claims.

The petition says the facility was under direct control of the U.S. government, KBR and Halliburton, collectively.

Jones' attorney, L. Todd Kelly, declined to say where Jones was living now because she fears for her safety. He declined to elaborate.

Jones' Web site highlights her nonprofit foundation to help fellow contract workers who may have been sexually assaulted, and displays her "therapeutic" still-life paintings that she offers to paint on commission. The site also mentions a screenplay of her story in Iraq.

In a statement, KBR said it couldn't comment on specifics of the case but that the safety and security of its employees were its top priority.

Halliburton says it is improperly named in the matter and expects to be dismissed from the case. "It would be inappropriate for Halliburton to comment on the merits of a matter affecting only the interest of KBR," the oilfield services company said in a statement.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack declined Tuesday to comment on specifics of the case, but he confirmed its Bureau of Diplomatic Security had responded to and investigated the incident. He said the results were turned over to the Justice Department.

Bush + Justice = Does not compute

[macusweil]

Good''ol GOP family values.. hard at work at home and a broad!!

Maybe if we give her a good lashing like our Saudi friends do she will straighten out her story or perhaps a little water boarding will get to the truth.

[tomanyt]

Lets see how far she takes this story. Sounds like she is looking for some $ and she has found a lawyer who is willing to find that $ for her.

[b-easy63]

Hmmmmm. Americans abused by other Americans and the cases being buried. A lot of people were alright with this group think when the victims were only Iraqis--but the fact is, if you let evil fester (and illegal wars, torture, lies , etc for profit are evil) it contaminates everything. Gangrene has no favorite or isolated body parts. From this poor girl being attacked and having no recourse (thank God she was rescued), to the employees of KBR that whistleblew on stealing of funds and were imprisoned at an American base and tortured--THIS is what happens when we engage in illegal actions---the rules stop working, the laws are ignored and eventually even ordinary people are at risk.

People may be okay with torture and persecution as long as they think only others (who deserve it) will be the recipients. History teaches us, that what is often done to one group for specific reasons--when ignored---is soon visited on the entire, shocked population. "Hello tasers, police brutality, wire tapping, rapes, torture, etc. America is on the line and wants a word with you....."

[jetlizhan]

and it''s taken so long for this story to come to light because. . . . .????

[fiteit1]

It all sounds like stay the course. The news media has to get involved to expose the wrong doings of the government, a third party has to rescue the victim, a government cover up, the government tells people their taking over, Bush and Chaney sub contractors with no accountability, and then no one will answer questions.

[teeus]

Lets see how far she takes this story. Sounds like she is looking for some $
Posted by tomanyt

I couldnt disagree more. She waited for 2 years for the DOJ to do something. But if theyre not going to investigate or prosecute, her only option is to sue.

[fiteit1]

Natalee what''''s-her-name...
Posted by Nancy_Naive

Natalee HOLLOWAY and she was raped and killed by 3 punk kids with connections and there government is covering it up just like ours does.

[watcher269-2009]

Rape. Is that all? Don''t foorget the 50 Billion Plus that Halliburton has Raped for the People of the United States!

It''s all a mute point - Halliburton now has its headquarters in Dubai. There is no way the US can touch its CEO etc..... There are not extradition treaties between Dubai and the US. That''s why Cheney has purchased land there too.

[lochlan-2009]

It looks like a couple more hoodwinked Republicans from Texas will be opening their eyes and joining the Democratic party to remove the corrupt to the core Bush Administration. It''s unfortunate this girl had to get raped for some of these people to catch a clue. I guess until it effects you individually, it''s party first in the South.

[excoachken]

Finally, we see this story. Why so long to vent. Maybe you guys were too busy covering 3 day old shootouts that make whacked out kids into cult heroes.

[downtowner97]

Get in line, lady, we''ve all been raped by Haliburton. At least you got a paycheck.

[culturechang]

It is odd that it took 2 1/2 year for this to daylight.

If they claim jurisdictional problems...and they will....they need to remember thier Human Trafficking law they have been promoting and prioritizing for 8 years. This law extends the jurisdiction of the US to cover *** crimes by US citizens or residents even overseas. They have plenty of laws to use....they just may not want to use them. But they will probably claim no jurisdition in order to set these guys free....and justify passing another set of laws regulating the morality of innocent citizens in the future.

[neoconslayer]

THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET and it''s anonymity.
Where else could a subhuman wad of phlegm like macusweil, who offers no proof or even a specific allegation that anything isn''t ''straight'' with her story, and then suggest that she be tortured!
macusweil is not fit to pour pee out of a boot which has the instructions for same written under the heel.

Oh, and Nancy-Naive, so easily converting a gang-rape and imprisonment which required not only rescue but medical treatment to the equivalent of being told an off-color joke at work.
Simply incredible.

[jerr11]

Raping and looting the US treasury.

Two things that Halliburton excels at.

Thanks to its former CEO, ******** Cheney.

[gunownerdan]

Halliburton sure does seem to have a lot of experience with rape.

[smiley676]

FORMER is the key word there Jer.

[stevex47]

I''m sure the haliburton rapists just thought they were protecting us. Your tax dollars at work.

[Krazcarl]

Political mumbo jumbo that''s all it is..

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II is undisturbed about allegations that VP Darth Vader Cheney''s "former employer" maybe guilty of covering up a rape of one of its employees.

The Emperor feels that independant contractors like KBR, Halliburton, and Blackwater are doing a great service to the country (and their bottom lines) and that allegations by employees of sexual harrassment happen all the time at companies that are successful.

The Emperor feels that many of the charges are attempts by disgruntled employees to get money from the companies which, the Emperor feels are the real victims in these matters.

That said, the Emperor refuses to allow HIS foreign affairs department to aid the evil, cowardly Whimp-ocrats in Congress from digging into the matter any further.

ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR THE "DARK SIDE"!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[gramto7]

THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET and it''''s anonymity.
Where else could a subhuman wad of phlegm like macusweil, who offers no proof or even a specific allegation that anything isn''''t ''''straight'''' with her story, and then suggest that she be tortured!
macusweil is not fit to pour pee out of a boot which has the instructions for same written under the heel.

Oh, and Nancy-Naive, so easily converting a gang-rape and imprisonment which required not only rescue but medical treatment to the equivalent of being told an off-color joke at work.
Simply incredible.

Posted by neoconslayer

Do you know what the term ''sarcasm'' is and means!??!

Of all the dense, bull-headed posts I have read, yours takes the cake!

[jerr11]

FORMER is the key word there Jer.

Posted by smiley676 at 12:33 PM : Dec 12, 2007



I agree but looks like Halliburton is still operating under his enduring legacy.

For those of you who did not know, this story broke 4 days ago on abcnews.com

[runningralph]

When a criminal commits a crime it is the criminal''s fault. It''s not his employer''s fault, it''s not the taxpayer''s fault, it''s not society''s fault, it''s the criminal''s fault. The criminals need to be caught (which should be easy-how many firefighters did they have?), tried and sentenced. All the talk about blaming the president or vice-president or the employer is misguided.

[marcodele]

Halliburton raped the U.S. taxpayers.

[tomanyt]

fiteit1..."Natalee HOLLOWAY and she was raped and killed by 3 punk kids with connections and there government is covering it up just like ours does." Where is your evidence to support this claim?

"When a criminal commits a crime it is the criminal''s fault. It''s not his employer''s fault..."
Not necessarily so. The employer can be held liable for many different aspects of the crime, as well as the ensuing cover-up. That what the justice system is for: to determine all the guilty parties - and accessories.

[jerr11]

All the talk about blaming the president or vice-president or the employer is misguided.

Posted by runningralph at 12:57 PM : Dec 12, 2007



Who was it said "the buck stops here?"

I don''t think either Bush or Cheney ever said that.

That''s why they''re not responsible. It''s always someone else''s fault!

Right Libby?!

[teeus]

Get in line, lady, we''''ve all been raped by Haliburton. At least you got a paycheck.
Posted by downtowner97

Sheesh. You are tacky.

[deborahcox05]

Halliburton covering something up? IMAGINE THAT!

[missingamerica]

"Too much regulation. Too much oversight."

That is always the whine of Business, yet every other day you see a new story about how a Business has been caught living down in the gutter.

They constantly strive to prove that the less oversight they have, the more arrogant they become and the more they think they can get away with.

Halliburton, being the epitome of unregulated, unchallenged Business, has a knack for finding the deepest gutters, of course.

That''s why our government itself is in such disrepair...we''ve got people running it who think "government should be run like a Business", which is their rather odd way of saying accountable to no one.

Like Halliburton, or Blackwater.

[runningralph]

arkadian,
An employer could be held responsible for an employee''s crime if the employee was acting at the employer''s behest when committing the crime. Or if the employer was somehow negligent in preventing the crime. Nothing in this article suggests that either of those circumstances occured in this case. As far as a cover-up, there was no cover-up. The employer started an investigation and was told to stop by the government. If the government did not pursue the investigation, the government is at fault for that, but not for committing the original crime.

[ramos937]

If it was not for the fact that Jones had to be rescued from the container, and that medical tests at the time showed forable virginal and anal entries, I would say that she had to be investigated also because of her economic activites. But enough exists to warrant a full investigation. If certain employees are found guilty, they need to do hard time. And, she would deserve all the funds she can raise. After all, she is now unemployable.

[antoniof123]

I am still in a state of shock after reading this story I can not believe that anyone would want to be associated with the Republican party ever again. My God what is wrong with these people.

[stevex47]

antonio,
"I can not believe that anyone would want to be associated with the Republican party ever again. My God what is wrong with these people"

I blame it all on rush limbaugh. People shouldn''t listen to druggies like him. It''s the same as listening to Manson, Koresh, James Jones and Hitler.

[johnny_chaos]

Pass the Kool-aid already.

[stevex47]

Aww Infidel,
Sorry no, but good try on the Clinton spin again. No, Clinton didn''t have to rape and then put anyone in containers, no. Try again Infidel. But go ahead, give us your next best Clinton spin.

[infidel_us]

Awwww stevex47,

Is 47 IQ? Ever hear of due process? Ever hear of innocent until proven guilty, or does your maniacal hatred of republicans and Bush trump all constitutional rights (that you are probably in favor of allowing terrorists?)

[infidel_us]

My God what is wrong with these people.
Posted by antoniof123 at 01:53 PM : Dec 12, 2007

We wonder the same thing about leftwing, bedwetting liberals.

[johnny_chaos]

clinton again... wow. so, clinton is a criminal, its ok for the other guys to do the same?

[johnny_chaos]

Infidel_Us your a joke.

[marcodele]

They have to attack a Clinton. Their education (The Rush Limbaugh Show) requires it. Plus, they are tired of making excuses for their boy, Junior, so they go after Bill.

[teeus]

Is 47 IQ? Ever hear of due process? Ever hear of innocent until proven guilty, or does your maniacal hatred of republicans and Bush trump all constitutional rights (that you are probably in favor of allowing terrorists?)
Posted by Infidel_Us

So, that applies to Clinton, too, right?

Just asking.

[kailumego1]

Throwing citizens into jail, or fining them, if they refused, the good old Republican Party, the party of Lincoln, they''re all corrupt, all parties, of which none are really for the people.

Now why am I not surprise of this latest fiasco, the government again coming to the aid of its "puppet master"..

Along with the "puppets" posting on this site that feel this woman shouldn''t be compensated for being tortured, rape, and left to die..

The government loves you, "big business" loves you, and certainly the "evil corrupt" system loves you, you are a beacon of why this system has failed Americans.

The idea or concept of the "republic"!

This girl would have died under mysterious circumstances and no one would have known, if it wasn''t for a soldier with a conscious that gave her a cell phone..

Well somebody defied the "rules" of apathetic discourse, the rules that foster the rape, torture, and murder of innocent Iraqi civilians and American citizens.

[kailumego1]

Amazing, simply amazing, for all intent and purposes they left this woman to die...

Locked in a container, without food or water, it doesn''t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out..

Halliburton, just another "puppet master" controlling governmental policies and decisions.

I''m amazed and surprised some people have "grown up", Republicans, Democrats, who cares, they''re all puppets to "big business", since the Civil War, when industrialists commanded the U.S. government to create laws forcing citizens into working for factories.

[antoniof123]

We wonder the same thing about leftwing, bedwetting liberals.

Posted by Infidel_Us at 02:28 PM : Dec 12, 2007

Ah the right wing nut jobs wondering that implies you have a brain which we find hard to believe.

[excoachken]

adMISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Now go directly to jail.

[marcodele]

A fish rots from the head down. Halliburton rapes, so why shouldn''t their employees?

[gayboy43]

Hi guys. New to the blog here. I just came from the Huckabee blog and boy is it nasty over there. I would hope this blog is a bit more civilized. Did anyone see the debates today? Some snappy dressers those Republicans are.

[roger_inkart]

It. Just. Never. Ends.

Every single day there''s some kind of horrible scandal involving the White House or those closely aligned with it!

I mean, how many have there been this week already - and it''s only Wednesday!