Uncover What the Coast Guard is Hiding

Hello, my name is Caitlin Maro (nee Stopper) and I am a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's class of 2008. I am asking for your help in obtaining legal representation in my fight against the US Coast Guard for the truth of my personal sexual assault and sexual harassment case.

I learned about my case's inclusion in Operation Fouled Anchor from CNN in June of 2023. After my FOIA request for the original OFA report was denied in August of 2023, I decided to go straight to the Coast Guard Academy itself for my investigative file. It was again denied. When I testified in front of the US Senate's HSGAC's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in December of 2023, I pleaded my FOIA/Privacy Act case to Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Ron Johnson (WI). Less than three weeks later did I finally have part of my file.

The file that I ultimately received was heavily redacted - of 76 total pages, 23 are completely redacted. Fourteen pages are partially redacted. The Coast Guard's redaction of choice was 5 USC 522a (d)(5): "Information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action proceeding" and was used 13 total times. Dare I ask if the Coast Guard is anticipating civil action?

I have since appealed the Coast Guard's decision and have been awaiting their response. Unsurprisingly, the CG has already taken an arguably illegal 10-day extension on their response, and have broken that extension as well. It is my hope that upon prevailing in court, that the legal funds returned to me can be used to establish a 501(3)(c) that will help other Coasties in their FOIA and Privacy Act fights against the US Coast Guard too.

To this day, Operation Fouled Anchor remains a closely guarded government secret that not even Congress has access to. Fighting for our records through the FOIA and Privacy Act of 1974 remains the most effective recourse that we as individuals have in order to clean up the service's mess.

You can read my Congressional Testimony here .

I am now a married, homeschooling mother of 2 living in the greater Memphis, TN area. I love being landlocked and surrounded by cows.