The CIA is grappling with its own #MeToo moment

Courts in Northern Virginia and Washington DC have been quietly hearing cases of alleged sexual abuse at the CIA for more than a year, casting cursory glances at what several officials described as a “deep-rooted” cultural problem at the CNN spy agency. has reported.

Two cases have resulted in assault convictions in Virginia. In September, a federal judge in Washington DC sentenced a former CIA officer to 30 years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting dozens of women.

Behind the scenes, other accusations continue to plague the notoriously insular spy agency, including at least one allegation that has resulted in the firing of an officer, CNN has learned.

A stream of female whistleblowers have recently taken to Capitol Hill to testify behind closed doors before congressional oversight committees about other allegations of sexual assault and harassment at the CIA.

Earlier this year, a more than 600-page report by the agency’s inspector general and a separate investigation by congressional investigators revealed serious flaws in the CIA’s handling of complaints.

In response to what some victims have called the CIA’s #MeToo moment, the agency has launched a major reform effort over the past year. That includes setting up a special office to receive allegations of sexual assault and harassment, and hiring a law enforcement official to help facilitate investigations — part of a broader effort to make it easier for CIA agents to report a crime without compromising classified information, including their coverage.

In addition, for the first time, the CIA conducted an internal investigation to understand the extent of the sexual harassment problem.