FILE – In this July 30, 2020, file photo slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen’s mother Gloria Guillen, right, joined by Vanessa’s sister Lupe Guillen, center, and family attorney Natalie Khawam, speaks as she cries during a news conference on the National Mall in front of Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
OAN Newsroom
Updated 10:43 AM PT – Monday, August 15, 2022
The family of Texas soldier Vanessa Guillen, who was found dead at Fort Hood in 2020, is seeking $35 million in damages from the US Army. According to a recent court filing, the family is asking for $25 million in personal injury claims and $10 million for Guillen’s wrongful death.
The lawsuit alleges the 20-year old suffered mental anguish, fear, emotional distress, physical injury and death as a result of sexual harassment and rape. A lawyer for the family said if the US Army denies their claim, they plan to file a federal lawsuit in California.
“Let a jury decide if what happened to Vanessa was okay because that is where everything is going to happen, all the information is going to be heard, all the evidence is going to be displayed and everyone’s going to learn how the army and DOD protected itself rather than it’s soldiers,” stated Natalie Khawam, attorney for the Guillen family.
BREAKING: the family of slain Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the U.S. government. The lawsuit says Guillen was harassed at Fort Hood, and told her family she didn’t report it in fear of retaliation. pic.twitter.com/wloxFtXKFO
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) August 13, 2022
The attorney noted, Guillen first told her mother that she experienced sexual harassment in 2019 while undergoing training at Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County.