In 2005, a 20 year old woman named Jamie Leigh Jones was on her fourth day of the job working for US contractor Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. On that day she was assaulted by a group of fellow employees, she was drugged and repeatedly raped vaginally and anally. In order to keep her quiet, Jones was locked in a shipping container for at least 24 hours with no food or water.
With the help of a lone KBR guard, Jones was able to contact her father in Texas. Eventually through the intervention of Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) she was rescued by State Department officials from the US Embassy.
The Bush era Department of Justice never pressed criminal charges, and because she signed an arbitration agreement as part of her contract, she has had few good legal options. According to ABC News:
In arbitration, there is no public record nor transcript of the proceedings, meaning that Jones’ claims would not be heard before a judge and jury. Rather, a private arbitrator would decide Jones’ case. In recent testimony before Congress, employment lawyer Cathy Ventrell-Monsees said that Halliburton won more than 80 percent of arbitration proceedings brought against it.
Legal experts say Jones’ alleged assailants will likely never face a judge and jury, due to an enormous loophole that has effectively left contractors in Iraq beyond the reach of United States law.
“It’s very troubling,” said Dean John Hutson of the Franklin Pierce Law Center. “The way the law presently stands, I would say that they don’t have, at least in the criminal system, the opportunity for justice.”
Last month, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that her injuries were not related to her employment and not covered by the contract. So Jamie Leigh Jones will have the chance to face KBR in court, but of course her’s is not an isolated case.
This week, former yuckmeister and new Senator Al Franken (D-MN) proposed his first piece of law, an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill that would stop federal funding for defense contractors such as Halliburton and KBR who use mandatory arbitration clauses to deny victims of assault the right to bring their case to court. It passed by a 68-30 margin.
68-30? Do you mean that 30 Senators found the will, the courage, the intestinal fortitude to go against the grain, swim against the tide, and employ many other cliches? To boldly stand up for the unfortunate big businesses that are constantly beseiged by piddly little former employees with insignificant grudges like being raped and threatened. Who were these leaders, these visionaries, these — I’m just gonna say it — profiles in congressional courage?
As a public service to you, my fervent readers, I have provided a list of these men along with contact information so you can e-mail, call, write, or in some cases tweet these bastions, these lions, these gods among mortals, and let them know how you feel about the brave stance they have taken in favor of gang rape. Now and forever more they will be known as The Pro Gang Rape 30, and they are as follows:
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Contact Sen. Lamar Alexander via Web Form.
Website: alexander.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4204
Phone: (202) 224-4944
Fax: (202) 228-3398
Nashville Office: (more district offices)
3322 West End Avenue, Suite 120
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Phone: (615) 736-5129
Fax: (615) 269-4803
John Barrasso (R-WY)
Contact Sen. John Barrasso via email.
Website: barrasso.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
307 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-5003
Phone: (202) 224-6441
Fax: (202) 224-1724
Casper Office: (more district offices)
100 East B Street, Suite 2201
Casper, Wyoming 82602
Phone: (307) 261-6413
Fax: (307) 265-6706
Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Contact Sen. Christopher Bond via Web Form.
Website: bond.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
274 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-2503
Phone: (202) 224-5721
Fax: (202) 224-8149
Jefferson City Office: (more district offices)
308 East High Street, #202
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone: (573) 634-2488
Fax: (573) 634-6005
Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Contact Sen. Sam Brownback via Web Form.
Website: brownback.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
303 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1604
Phone: (202) 224-6521
Fax: (202) 228-1265
Topeka Office: (more district offices)
612 South Kansas Avenue
Topeka, Kansas 66603
Phone: (785) 233-2503
Fax: (785) 233-2616
http://twitter.com/SenSamBrownback
Jim Bunning (R-KY)
Contact Sen. Jim Bunning via Web Form.
Website: bunning.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
316 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1703
Phone: (202) 224-4343
Fax: (202) 228-1373
Ft. Wright Office: (more district offices)
1717 Dixie Highway, Suite 220
Ft. Wright, Kentucky 41011
Phone: (859) 341-2602
Fax: (859) 331-7445
http://twitter.com/SenatorBunning
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Contact Sen. Richard Burr via Web Form.
Website: burr.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
217 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3306
Phone: (202) 224-3154
Fax: (202) 228-2981
Winston-Salem Office: (more district offices)
2000 West First Street, Suite 508
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104
Phone: (336) 631-5125
Fax: (336) 725-4493
http://twitter.com/burrforsenate
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Contact Sen. Saxby Chambliss via Web Form.
Website: chambliss.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
416 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1005
Phone: (202) 224-3521
Fax: (202) 224-0103
Atlanta Office: (more district offices)
100 Galleria, Suite 1340
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Phone: (770) 763-9090
Fax: (770) 226-8633
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Contact Sen. Tom Coburn via Web Form.
Website: coburn.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
172 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3602
Phone: (202) 224-5754
Fax: (202) 224-6008
Tulsa Office: (more district offices)
1800 South Baltimore, Suite 800
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119
Phone: (918) 581-7651
Fax: (918) 581-7195
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Contact Sen. Thad Cochran via Web Form.
Website: cochran.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
113 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-2402
Phone: (202) 224-5054
Fax: (202) 224-9450
Jackson Office: (more district offices)
190 East Capitol Street, Suite 550
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Phone: (601) 965-4459
Fax: (601) 965-4919
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Contact Sen. Bob Corker via Web Form.
Website: corker.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
185 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4205
Phone: (202) 224-3344
Fax: (202) 228-0566
Chattanooga Office: (more district offices)
10 West MLK Boulevard, 6th Floor
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
Phone: (423) 756-2757
Fax: (423) 756-5313
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Contact Sen. John Cornyn via Web Form.
Website: cornyn.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
517 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4302
Phone: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
Austin Office: (more district offices)
221 West 6th Street, Suite 1530
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 469-6034
Fax: (512) 469-6020
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Contact Sen. Mike Crapo via Web Form.
Website: crapo.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
239 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1205
Phone: (202) 224-6142
Fax: (202) 228-1375
Boise Office: (more district offices)
251 East Front Street, Suite 205
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: (208) 334-1776
Fax: (208) 334-9044
Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Contact Sen. Jim DeMint via Web Form.
Website: demint.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
340 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4002
Phone: (202) 224-6121
Fax: (202) 228-5143
Greenville Office: (more district offices)
105 North Spring Street, Suite 109
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
Phone: (864) 233-5366
Fax: (864) 271-8901
John Ensign (R-NV)
Contact Sen. John Ensign via Web Form.
Website: ensign.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
119 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-2805
Phone: (202) 224-6244
Fax: (202) 228-2193
Las Vegas Office: (more district offices)
333 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Suite 8203
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Phone: (702) 388-6605
Fax: (702) 388-6501
http://twitter.com/JohnEnsign
Michael Enzi (R-WY)
Contact Sen. Michael Enzi via Web Form.
Website: enzi.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
379A Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-5004
Phone: (202) 224-3424
Fax: (202) 228-0359
Gillette Office: (more district offices)
400 South Kendrick Avenue, Suite 303
Gillette, Wyoming 82716
Phone: (307) 682-6268
Fax: (307) 682-6501
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Contact Sen. Lindsey Graham via Web Form.
Website: lgraham.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
290 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4001
Phone: (202) 224-5972
Fax: (202) 224-3808
Greenville Office: (more district offices)
101 East Washington Street, Suite 220
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
Phone: (864) 250-1417
Fax: (864) 250-4322
Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Contact Sen. Judd Gregg via Web Form.
Website: gregg.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
201 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-2904
Phone: (202) 224-3324
Fax: (202) 224-4952
Concord Office: (more district offices)
125 North Main Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Phone: (603) 225-7115
Fax: (603) 224-0198
James Inhofe (R-OK)
Contact Sen. James Inhofe via Web Form.
Website: inhofe.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
453 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3603
Phone: (202) 224-4721
Fax: (202) 228-0380
Tulsa Office: (more district offices)
1924 South Utica Avenue, Suite 530
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104
Phone: (918) 748-5111
Fax: (918) 748-5119
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Contact Sen. Johnny Isakson via Web Form.
Website: isakson.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
120 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1006
Phone: (202) 224-3643
Fax: (202) 228-0724
Atlanta Office: (more district offices)
3625 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite 970
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Phone: (770) 661-0999
Fax: (770) 661-0768
Mike Johanns (R-NE)
Contact Sen. Mike Johanns via Web Form.
Website: johanns.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
404 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-2705
Phone: (202) 224-4224
Fax: (202) 228-0436
Scottsbluff Office: (more district offices)
115 Railway Street, Suite C102
Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361
Phone: (308) 632-6032
Fax: (308) 632-6295
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Contact Sen. Jon Kyl via Web Form.
Website: kyl.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
730 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-0304
Phone: (202) 224-4521
Fax: (202) 224-2207
Phoenix Office: (more district offices)
2200 East Camelback, Suite 120
Phoenix, Arizona 85016-1891
Phone: (602) 840-1891
Fax: (602) 957-6838
John McCain (R-AZ)
Contact Sen. John McCain via Web Form.
Website: mccain.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
241 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-0303
Phone: (202) 224-2235
Fax: (202) 228-2862
Phoenix Office: (more district offices)
5353 North 16th Street, Suite 105
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Phone: (602) 952-2410
Fax: (602) 952-8702
http://twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Contact Sen. Mitch McConnell via Web Form.
Website: mcconnell.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
361A Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1702
Phone: (202) 224-2541
Fax: (202) 224-2499
Louisville Office: (more district offices)
601 West Broadway, #630
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Phone: (502) 582-6304
Fax: (502) 582-5326
Jim Risch (R-ID)
Contact Sen. Jim Risch via Web Form.
Website: risch.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
483 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1203
Phone: (202) 224-2752
Fax: (202) 224-2573
Boise Office: (more district offices)
350 North 9th Street, Suite 302
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: (208) 342-7985
Fax: (208) 343-2458
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Contact Sen. Pat Roberts via Web Form.
Website: roberts.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
109 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1605
Phone: (202) 224-4774
Fax: (202) 224-3514
Overland Park Office: (more district offices)
11900 College Boulevard, Suite 203
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
Phone: (913) 451-9343
Fax: (913) 451-9446
Pete Sessions (R-AL)
Contact Rep. Pete Sessions via Web Form.
Website: sessions.house.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
2233 Rayburn House Office Building,
District of Columbia 20515-4332
Phone: (202) 225-2231
Fax: (202) 225-5878
Dallas Office: (more district offices)
Park Central 7
12750 Merit Drive, Suite 1434
Dallas, Texas 75251
Phone: (972) 392-0505
Fax: (972) 392-0615
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Contact Sen. Richard Shelby via Web Form.
Website: shelby.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
304 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-0103
Phone: (202) 224-5744
Fax: (202) 224-3416
Tuscaloosa Office: (more district offices)
1118 Greensboro Avenue, #240
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
Phone: (205) 759-5047
Fax: (205) 759-5067
http://twitter.com/RichardShelby
John Thune (R-SD)
Contact Sen. John Thune via Web Form.
Website: thune.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
493 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4103
Phone: (202) 224-2321
Fax: (202) 228-5429
Sioux Falls Office: (more district offices)
320 North Main Avenue, Suite B
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104
Phone: (605) 334-9596
David Vitter (R-LA)
Contact Sen. David Vitter via Web Form.
Website: vitter.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
516 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1803
Phone: (202) 224-4623
Fax: (202) 228-5061
Lafayette Office: (more district offices)
800 Lafayette Street, Suite 1200
Lafayette, Louisiana 70501
Phone: (337) 262-6898
Fax: (337) 262-6373
http://twitter.com/DavidVitter
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Contact Sen. Roger Wicker via Web Form.
Website: wicker.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
555 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-2403
Phone: (202) 224-6253
Fax: (202) 228-0378
Jackson Office: (more district offices)
245 East Capitol Street, Suite 226
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Phone: (601) 965-4644
Fax: (601) 965-4007
A Misplaced Boy 