"Army Colonel Awarded $975,000 in Landmark Sex Assault Case Against Former Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman"
A retired Army colonel, Kathryn Spletstoser, has reached a settlement of $975,000 in a sexual assault lawsuit against Air Force Gen. John Hyten, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Spletstoser accused Hyten of subjecting her to unwanted sexual advances in 2017 while she was his aide. The settlement ends years of investigations and reviews, and Spletstoser hopes it will encourage other survivors of military sexual violence to come forward. Hyten denied the allegations, and an internal Air Force investigation found insufficient evidence to charge him. The settlement is notable as it is the only known settlement paid by the government for a sexual assault case against a member of the U.S. military.