Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Tuesday expressed his "outrage and disgust" over the arrest of the Air Force's chief sexual assault prevention chief, who was charged with sexual battery early Sunday outside a strip club one mile from the Pentagon.
Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, 41, was arrested in the parking lot of the Crystal City Gentleman's Club and Restaurant, where he was accused of being intoxicated and fondling a woman before she fought him off, reports
Military.com.
Krusinski was just chosen two months ago to lead a program to protect Air Force members from sexual assaults. He was released on $5,000 bail, and mug shots of his scratched-up face started circulating. Arlington police would not say if he got the injuries during the alleged altercation with the woman.
His arrest comes as the U.S. military is being scrutinized and investigated on Capitol Hill because of numerous sexual assault scandals over the past two years. On learning of the arrest, Hagel immediately called Air Force Secretary Michael Donley on Monday "and emphasized that this matter will be dealt with swiftly and decisively," said Pentagon spokesman George Little.
“Sexual assault has no place in the United States military,” Little said in a statement made on behalf of Hagel, who has made the issue a top priority since his appointment just a few weeks ago. “The American people, including our service members, should expect a culture of absolutely no tolerance for this deplorable behavior that violates not only the law, but basic principles of respect, honor, and dignity in our society and its military."
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