U.S. Rep. Martha McSally told the Wall Street Journal during a recent interview that she was sexually abused as a teen by her high school track coach.
McSally, a 蜜柚直播 Republican who is running in 蜜柚直播鈥檚 GOP primary to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said in a story published Monday the alleged sexual abuse happened when she was a senior in high school.
Later Monday, McSally鈥檚 campaign released a written statement from the congresswoman.
鈥淒uring the course of a recent interview about my path as an endurance athlete and completing the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, I shared some dark experiences from my past,鈥 McSally said in the statement.
鈥淭hese experiences don鈥檛 define me, but only deepened and strengthened my resolve to not be powerless, and dedicate my life to fight for others, especially girls, women and the vulnerable.鈥
People are also reading…
McSally, now 52, told the Journal that the experience came following the death of her father. To help her cope with the grief, she turned to running and other exercise.
The article said that the coach, who was 20 years older, coerced her into sex. Although she was uncomfortable, she said the coach kept her from talking about it with others by manipulating her mentally.
鈥淓ven though he didn鈥檛 physically force me, it certainly was an emotional manipulation,鈥 McSally was quoted as saying in the story.
The article said she tried to avoid pregnancy by exercising so much that she would not have a regular menstrual cycle.
鈥淚 was freaking out that he would get me pregnant,鈥 she told the Journal.
McSally attended St. Academy-Bay View, a Catholic school in Rhode Island. Representatives from the school鈥檚 alumni office and main office did not immediately respond to The 蜜柚直播 Republic鈥檚 calls for comment.
The Journal said the school identified the track coach at the time of the alleged abuse as Jack Dwyer.
The Journal reported that Dwyer said he coached McSally and denied the allegations.
鈥淚 believe she鈥檚 nuts,鈥 he is quoted as saying. 鈥淭hat girl is the most scheming woman I鈥檝e ever met.鈥
Dwyer said McSally went to his home 鈥渁 few times, uninvited, with and without other people.鈥 He said they did not have sex.
McSally told the Journal she told two adult women about the alleged abuse. One of them reported it to the school but did not name McSally, the story states.
One of those women told the Journal that the school immediately fired Dwyer.
Dwyer disputed that account, saying he resigned from the job.
McSally, the first female pilot to fight in combat, told the Journal that she left Rhode Island and joined the Air Force Academy to get away from the coach.
鈥淚 needed to geographically get to another place.鈥
She did not pursue legal remedies.
In 2014, as a congressional contender, McSally disclosed that she had been stalked, saying she understood what it was like to 鈥渨orry constantly about when and where your stalker will appear next and what he鈥檒l do.鈥
It is unclear who she was referring to.
At the time, she said in a written statement that she had 鈥渢hreats鈥 made against her, 鈥渁nd wasn鈥檛 even safe in my own home or my car when my stalker broke in and held me in a hostage-like situation.鈥
McSally told the Journal that when she was running for Congress, she got a Facebook friend request from Dwyer.
鈥淚 left a pretty scathing message, but I also told him that I forgave him in the same message,鈥 she is quoted in the Journal story as saying.
鈥淣ot because he deserved it. ... Forgiveness is about freeing yourself 鈥 not allowing any sort of deep anger to have power over you.鈥
听
