Blake Ellis (@blakeellis3) 's Twitter Profile
Blake Ellis

@blakeellis3

Senior Writer, CNN Investigations. [email protected].

ID: 222316793

linkhttps://www.cnn.com/profiles/blake-ellis calendar_today03-12-2010 02:07:34

1,1K Tweet

4,4K Followers

960 Following

Melanie Hicken (@melhicken) 's Twitter Profile Photo

"This industry is not safe, and the Coast Guard must do more.” More than a year after a cadet accused her boss of rape, she is still waiting for justice. cnn.com/2023/03/16/us/…

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

🧵 A year after a cadet accused her boss of rape, she's still waiting for a resolution. Other mariners say the Coast Guard needs to do more to prevent assault. cnn.com/2023/03/16/us/…

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

From the moment 19-year-old trainee Hope Hicks stepped on board ship for her 100-day stint at sea, the harsh realities of being a woman on a ship full of men hit her. She told CNN her boss, who did not respond to requests for comment, made it clear he wanted to have sex with her.

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

One evening, she says, her boss pressured her into drinking shot after shot of hard alcohol until she became incapacitated. Then, she says, he raped her.

One evening, she says, her boss pressured her into drinking shot after shot of hard alcohol until she became incapacitated. Then, she says, he raped her.
CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

“I decided that the only thing I could do was to tough it out. No one was going to believe me” She suffered through the next 50 days aboard the ship, working with her alleged rapist every day.

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Hicks didn’t know it at the time, but her encounter would launch what some in the shipping industry have likened to a “Maritime Me Too” moment and shine a spotlight on the one agency with the most power to do something about it: the United States Coast Guard.

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

It is the Coast Guard’s job to ensure that the more than 200,000 merchant mariners do not pose a safety risk. However, it couldn’t point to a single successful sex crime prosecution of a credentialed mariner in the last 30 years 📷: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images

It is the Coast Guard’s job to ensure that the more than 200,000 merchant mariners do not pose a safety risk. However, it couldn’t point to a single successful sex crime prosecution of a credentialed mariner in the last 30 years

📷: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images
CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

One chief mate highlighted in CNN’s report raped his female second mate multiple times, according to a Coast Guard administrative complaint, yet was allowed to keep his credential after a brief suspension and attending sexual harassment training.

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

CNN also identified more than 25 mariners who held credentials after being convicted of sex crimes including rape, sexual battery, sexual assault, and child molestation.

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

A CNN investigation found the Coast Guard has minimized the maritime industry’s sexual assault problem for decades and allowed sex offenders to work aboard commercial ships. cnn.com/2023/03/16/us/…

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Update: Coast Guard officials filed administrative charges against mariner Edgar Sison for alleged alcohol violations stemming from the rape accusation a day after CNN reported that the agency had not taken any disciplinary measures against Sison cnn.com/2023/03/22/us/…

Pamela Brown (@pamelabrowncnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

The Coast Guard buried its report for several years on systemic sexual abuse at the Academy that was largely ignored & only briefed Congress this week when CNN reached out for comment. So please take a moment to read this important reporting Melanie Hicken Blake Ellis Audrey Ash

CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish (@cnnthismorning) 's Twitter Profile Photo

**CNN EXCLUSIVE** The coast guard has been hiding a damning investigation and report about sexual assault at its academy for years - until CNN recently uncovered it. Pamela Brown on what she learned:

Melanie Hicken (@melhicken) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Blake Ellis and I've been asking the Coast Guard about whether Congress had been briefed on this secret investigation years ago --> Officials briefed members of Congress this month. Watch Pamela Brown on TV all day discussing our exclusive report cnn.com/2023/06/30/pol…

CNN (@cnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

A secret investigation into alleged sexual abuse at the US Coast Guard Academy, the training ground for the agency's top officers, uncovered a dark history of rapes, assaults and other serious misconduct being ignored and, at times, covered up by high-ranking officials. 🧵

A secret investigation into alleged sexual abuse at the US Coast Guard Academy, the training ground for the agency's top officers, uncovered a dark history of rapes, assaults and other serious misconduct being ignored and, at times, covered up by high-ranking officials. 🧵
Kyung Lah (@kyunglahcnn) 's Twitter Profile Photo

All those political texts hammering your cell phone? Elderly dementia patients are unwittingly fueling political campaigns, losing their life savings. Don't miss our CNN investigation: cnn.com/interactive/20…

Longreads (@longreads) 's Twitter Profile Photo

"This eventually led him to give about $80,000, leaving him tens of thousands of dollars in debt and his children angry at the campaigns who they say tricked their dad and took advantage of his compromised state of mind." CNN #longreads cnn.com/interactive/20…