Air Force defends internal probe

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force denied an internal investigation of the sex scandal at its prestigious academy was calculated to protect top officers.

Air Force Secretary James Roche ordered the investigation focus on procedures followed at the academy -- not actions taken up the chain of command, according to a statement released late Tuesday.

An independent commission headed by former Rep. Tillie Fowler, a former Republican Congresswoman, charged Monday that the Air Force's general counsel, Mary Walker, intentionally withheld information to protect Air Force leaders who knew about sexual assault at the academy.

"The Working Group's charter was to focus specifically on the academy rather than study past Air Force headquarters involvement in or accountability for academy sexual-assault issues," the Air Force statement said.

The statement came as Fowler prepared to present her findings to Congress, the Denver Post reported.

Fowler's report blames leadership breakdowns led to sexual assault becoming "a part of life" at the academy.