Abilene Woman Joins Lawsuit Against Department of Defense
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: October 3, 2012
"A lot of sexual assaults happen. A lot of us have our own unique story, but everything's the same is that nobody was ever punished for what they had done to us," says Kelly Smith.
After being turned down by several lawyers, Smith contacted the Service Women's Action Network, who then got her in touch with attorney Susan Burke, the first person who ever agreed to take on her lawsuit.
"All of us expect as Americans, is an impartial system of justice,"says Burke.
That is all Smith and the 18 other veterans involved in the lawsuit want.
Smith says, "I want a congressional hearing. I want to talk to congress because nobody is being told the whole story."
In an interview with Savannah Guthrie on NBC's Rock Center, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta admits it has been a challenge to deal with sexual assaults within the military.
"I mean it's an outrage that we aren't prosecuting," says Panetta.
"Panetta had a clear window in that Rock Center interview to make an apology to us and even he didn't do that. He continued to make excuses," Smith continues.
Panetta says, "Look these are tough cases, let's understand."
"I really think the government owes us an apology and I myself would definitely want an apology from them," says Smith.
I asked Smith, even after experiencing what she has gone through, if she could, would she serve again.
She told me, "I loved it and unfortunately had a really bad experience and they handled it really badly but yeah, I would serve in the military again."
After being turned down by several lawyers, Smith contacted the Service Women's Action Network, who then got her in touch with attorney Susan Burke, the first person who ever agreed to take on her lawsuit.
"All of us expect as Americans, is an impartial system of justice,"says Burke.
That is all Smith and the 18 other veterans involved in the lawsuit want.
Smith says, "I want a congressional hearing. I want to talk to congress because nobody is being told the whole story."
In an interview with Savannah Guthrie on NBC's Rock Center, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta admits it has been a challenge to deal with sexual assaults within the military.
"I mean it's an outrage that we aren't prosecuting," says Panetta.
"Panetta had a clear window in that Rock Center interview to make an apology to us and even he didn't do that. He continued to make excuses," Smith continues.
Panetta says, "Look these are tough cases, let's understand."
"I really think the government owes us an apology and I myself would definitely want an apology from them," says Smith.
I asked Smith, even after experiencing what she has gone through, if she could, would she serve again.
She told me, "I loved it and unfortunately had a really bad experience and they handled it really badly but yeah, I would serve in the military again."
