A landmark settlement has been reached in the sexual assault lawsuit brought by retired Army Colonel Kathryn Spletstoser against Air Force General John Hyten, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The U.S. government will pay Spletstoser $975,000, concluding a four-year legal battle that included extensive investigations, reviews, and congressional inquiries.
The case stemmed from allegations of unwanted sexual advances by Hyten towards Spletstoser while she served as his aide in 2017. Spletstoser accused Hyten of kissing, hugging, and inappropriate touching, claiming she repeatedly rebuffed his advances and subsequently faced repercussions in her military career. Hyten vehemently denied these allegations during a 2019 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, and an Air Force investigation concluded there wasn't sufficient evidence to bring charges or recommend disciplinary action. Notably, an Air Force official, speaking anonymously at the time, stated that investigators found no evidence to suggest Spletstoser was fabricating her account.
This substantial payout by the government, while not unprecedented in legal settlements, is exceptionally rare in a case involving such a high-ranking military official. Spletstoser's legal representative, Ariel Solomon, emphasized the significance of this settlement, highlighting it as the only known instance where the government has compensated a claimant in a sexual assault case against a member of the U.S. military. Spletstoser expressed her hope that the outcome of her case would encourage other survivors of military sexual assault to come forward, regardless of the perpetrator's rank.
The allegations against Hyten initially delayed his nomination for vice chairman in 2019. Although he was ultimately confirmed by the Senate with a 75-22 vote – a tally reflecting slightly more opposition than typical military nominations – the controversy surrounding the case persisted throughout his two-year term. Hyten chose not to seek reappointment after his term concluded.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges related to sexual assault within the military. Reported incidents have been rising almost annually since 2006. While progress has been made in creating safer reporting mechanisms for service members, sexual assault remains significantly underreported.
