Williamsburg Sun

The conviction of a CIA officer trainee for sexually assaulting a female colleague in a secluded stairwell at the agency's Virginia headquarters has prompted numerous women to come forward, shedding light on what the victim's attorney called "a gigantic problem at the agency," a Fox News story said. The case has ignited a debate about the culture of secrecy and silence surrounding such incidents within the CIA.

"This guilty verdict came despite and not because of the CIA," Kevin Carroll, attorney for the victim, said.

"The CIA apparently believes that it is not subject to federal law," attorney Kevin Byrnes, who represents some of the other accusers, said.

The conviction of CIA trainee Ashkan Bayatpour on state misdemeanor charges for assaulting a female colleague in a CIA headquarters stairwell marks a significant breach of the CIA's secretive atmosphere, ushering in a wider acknowledgment and reckoning of sexual misconduct within the organization.

In recent months, a reported two dozen women have made allegations of mistreatment within the CIA, asserting instances of sexual assaults, unwelcome physical contact, and manipulation, the Fox report said. These women have not only voiced concerns about the agency's purported efforts to suppress their testimony, citing potential damage to their careers and even national security, but they have also pointed to what they say is a broader issue of workplace harassment, the Fox report said.

Attorney Kristin Alden, who represents some of the complainants, said the inherent culture of secrecy in intelligence work could exacerbate the challenges faced by victims, creating an environment where retaliation and isolation are magnified.

Details of the July 13, 2022, stairwell assault by Bayatpour have recently come to light, with confirmation from the Associated Press through court records and anonymous sources familiar with the case, Fox reported.

During the court proceedings, attended by several of the victim's female co-workers, Bayatpour was found guilty by Fairfax General District Court Judge Dipti Pidikiti-Smith, the Fox report said. The judge sentenced him to six months' probation, ordered him to surrender firearms and ordered him to stay away from the woman. Bayatpour's attorney has appealed.

The CIA has not disclosed whether internal discipline has been applied, saying it doesn't comment on whether individuals are associated with the agency.

A group of women represented by Byrnes allege disturbing instances of sexual assault within the CIA. One woman claims she was sexually assaulted by a senior official after being given alcohol on her first day at a new posting. Another woman's supervisor made inappropriate advances and suggested sexual encounters. Byrnes said the CIA barred the women from reporting, claiming national security reasons.

Attorney Stuart Sears, representing Bayatpour, admitted that his client placed a scarf around the woman's neck in a stairwell, but he claimed it was meant as a playful gesture during a walk they took together. He characterized the incident as a failed joke.

The victim promptly reported the incident to the CIA, but she felt re-victimized when the agency instructed her not to involve law enforcement or even her family, the Fox News report said. In her affidavit, she said she had to take medication for post-traumatic stress disorder, had recurring suicidal thoughts, and harbored a constant fear of encountering her attacker at work.