💸💥 “A Cool Million, But No Cool Justice?” Ex-Army Colonel Bags $975K in Payout over Sexual Assault Case Against Former Top Gun 🎖️🔥
TL;DR;
In an unprecedented settlement, Ex-Army Colonel Kathryn Spletstoser pockets a near-million dollar payout from Uncle Sam, in the wake of a sexual assault case against former Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman, Gen. John Hyten. Amidst mixed reactions, this raises serious questions about the rampant issues of sexual misconduct within the military and the efficacy of our justice system. 🤔💔🇺🇸
💫Breaking it Down💫
So, who’d have thought this could happen at the top ranks of our military? Here we have retired Army Colonel Kathryn Spletstoser, who just settled for almost a million dollars in a sexual assault lawsuit against none other than the Air Force Gen. John Hyten, once second-in-command at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This case, that has been investigated, reviewed, and prodded by Congress for over four years, has finally seen a resolution. But is a payout enough justice? 🧐💰⚖️
Interestingly, this did little to halt Hyten’s ascendancy to vice chairman back in 2019. Even with the allegations hanging over his head, he served two years, choosing not to pursue a second term. It seems pretty wild, right? A high-ranking military officer gets accused of serious misconduct, yet gets to serve anyway and walk away without a personal financial ding.
Spletstoser, Hyten’s former aide, alleged that Hyten subjected her to unwanted sexual advances back in 2017. She claimed that after resisting his advances, he tried to hinder her career. However, despite these grave allegations, an internal Air Force investigation found “insufficient evidence” to take any action against Hyten. No concrete proof Spletstoser was lying was discovered either. So, with such a blurred line, are we really on the right path towards justice? 🕵️♀️🚧🤷♀️
Settlements aren’t uncommon, but one involving a sexual assault case against a high-ranking military officer is a different ball game. As shocking as it might be, the number of reported sexual assaults in the military has been on the rise nearly every year since 2006. Could this case pave the way for more survivors of military sexual violence to come forward? Or will it just be another dollar sign without systemic change? 💔⏳🔀
Spletstoser’s attorney, Ariel Solomon, has claimed that this legal payout “stands out as the only known settlement paid by the government for a sexual assault case brought against a member of the United States military.” If this is true, is this case going to set a precedent that gives survivors more power to seek justice? Or is it merely a cash band-aid over a festering wound? 💸🏥🙏
So here’s the ultimate question: Is justice being served by trading accusations for dollar bills, or are we just further embedding the issue of sexual assault under a pile of cash? 🤔💵💥
