Jamie Leigh Jones
Jamie Leigh Jones | |
|---|---|
| File:ALeqM5hCyDHYWNfHOxJ8N9b0M6V9Bb9tRg.jpg | |
| Employer | KBR (previously owned by Halliburton) |
Jamie Leigh Jones is the founder of the Jamie Leigh Foundation. Jones, who was 20 years old at the time of the incident, was allegedly drugged and gang-raped by about seven employees of KBR - a former subsidary of Halliburton - on July 28, 2005 while working in Camp Hope, Baghdad, Iraq.[1][2][3][4]
Alleged incident
On July 28, 2005, Charles Boartz, and his co-workers, slipped Jamie Leigh Jones a date rape drug. Boartz and his co-workers then engaged in unprotected anal and vaginal gang-rape with an unconscious Jones. The result of the "severe injuries" inflicted by Boartz and his co-workers on Jones included the following: (1) disfigurement of chest, (2) bruised thighs, (3) bruised chest, (4) bleeding between legs.[5] Further, the lawsuit filed by Jones' attorneys cites the following: "When she awoke the next morning still affected by the drug, she found her body naked and severely bruised, with lacerations to her vagina and anus, blood running down her leg, her breast implants were ruptured, and her pectoral muscles torn - which would later require reconstructive surgery. Upon walking to the rest room, she passed out again."[6] This was confirmed by U.S. Army physician Jodi Schultz.[7][8] The rape kit utilized by Schultz on Jones then went missing as a result of it being transferred to KBR/Halliburton security forces by Dr. Schultz.[9]
Jones says she was confined by armed guards under orders by her employer, KBR, to a shipping container containing only a bed.[10] She was denied food, water, and medical treatment. Jones used a borrowed cell phone to contact her father, who in turn contacted Representative Ted Poe (R, TX) who contacted the State Department. Agents were dispatched from the US Embassy in Baghdad and removed Jones from KBR custody.[11]
In May 2007, a State Department diplomat recovered the kit from Haliburton and KBR. However, notes and photographs taken by Dr. Schultz (of Ms. Jones the morning following her rape) were missing. Thus, since evidence had been tampered with, an attempt to prosecute the rapists may prove difficult.[12]
Issue with Criminal Lawsuit
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has brought no criminal charges against the alleged assailants. Because of CPA Order 17, which limits the power of the Iraqi government to pursue legal action against foreigner contractors working in Iraq, it is possible her assailants may not face any legal penalty for the crime.
However, Title 18, Part I, Chapter 1, § 7, of the United States Code, entitled "Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States defined," the United States has jurisdiction over the following:
"(7) Any place outside the jurisdiction of any nation with respect to an offense by or against a national of the United States."
Therefore, because CPA Order 17 provides immunity for U.S. Contractors from the Iraqi government, such contractors are outside of the Iraqi governments' jurisdiction. Thus, Title 18, Part I, Chapter 1, § 7, paragraph 7, of the United States Code, applies because Jones is a national of the United States.[16][17]
Further, on December 19, 2007, during the testimony of Jones, Congressman Robert Scott stated that the DOJ "can enforce with respect to contractors who commit crimes abroad, but it chooses not to."[18]
Moreover, Congressman Poe - a former judge - stated, in a recent interview, that the United States has jurisdiction over U.S. Contractors in the following:
"Well, I agree with Brian that there is jurisdiction - that the United States government has jurisdiction of this case. As a former judge, I agree with him totally. The federal government needs to pursue it."[19][20]
Issue with Civil Lawsuit
On May 16, 2007, Jones filed a civil lawsuit against KBR and former parent corporation Halliburton.[21] KBR has requested a private arbitration, and claims this is required by her employment contract.[22]
Testimony before Congress
On December 19, 2007, Jones testified before Congress about her experience of the incident.
In response to her testimony, Congressman Robert C. Scott stated that the DOJ "seems to be taking action with respect to enforcement of criminal laws in Iraq only when it is forced to do something by embarrassing media coverage."[23]
Further, the United States Department of Justice was supoeaned to appear before Congress. The Department of Justice failed to appear. In response to the DOJ's failure to appear, Congressman John Conyers - chairman of the full House Judiciary Committee - said, "It is unacceptable for our own Department of Justice to refuse to testify today,"[24]
References
- ^ Jones, Et Al v. Halliburton Company et al Justia
- ^ Ex-Halliburton Worker in Iraq Sues for Rape, Harassment FindLaw
- ^ State Dept Rescues American Woman From Halliburton In Iraq YouTube
- ^ 'Live with Dan Abrams' for Dec. 10 MSNBC,
- ^ Jamie Leigh Jones - KBR Gang Rape MSNBC Dan Abrams Dec-17-07 YouTube
- ^ Jones, Et Al v. Halliburton Company et alJustia
- ^ Capitol Hill Hearing LexisNexis News
- ^ Jamie leigh Jones Testifies Before House Judiciary Committee YouTube
- ^ Lawmakers to investigate Iraq contract worker's rape claim CNN
- ^ More Women Report Sex Assaults in Iraq MSNBC
- ^ Capitol Hill Hearing LexisNexis News
- ^ Gang-raped then locked in van, Iraq worker says The Age
- ^ Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States defined U.S. Code collection of Cornell University Law School
- ^ State Dept Rescues American Woman From Halliburton In Iraq YouTube
- ^ 'Live with Dan Abrams' for Dec. 10 MSNBC,
- ^ State Dept Rescues American Woman From Halliburton In Iraq YouTube
- ^ 'Live with Dan Abrams' for Dec. 10 MSNBC,
- ^ Woman testifies she was raped by US contractors in Iraq Yahoo! News
- ^ State Dept Rescues American Woman From Halliburton In Iraq YouTube
- ^ 'Live with Dan Abrams' for Dec. 10 MSNBC,
- ^ Jones, Et Al v. Halliburton Company et al Justia
- ^ More Women Report Sex Assaults in Iraq MSNBC
- ^ Woman testifies she was raped by US contractors in Iraq Yahoo! News
- ^ More Women Report Sex Assaults in Iraq MSNBC