Martha McSally says she was sexually assaulted while jogging, suspect arrested
A man has been arrested after former Arizona Senator Martha McSally took to social media to say that she was attacked and sexually assaulted while jogging.
McSally says she was running on Nov. 8 along the Missouri River near the Iowa-Nebraska border when a man grabbed her.
"A man came up behind me, and he engulfed me in a bear hug, and he molested and fondled me until I fought him off," McSally said in a video on Instagram. "I ran after him. I threw my water bottle at him, and I chased him into the brush, where he was then hiding as I called 911 and waited for the police to come."
"I just know it happened very fast," said McSally, in an interview that took place after the social media post was made. "I was able to get him off me, then he started running and I just started chasing him."
McSally was scheduled to give an empowering speech the next day about overcoming adversity and fear.
"I was just really, really angry," said McSally. "I threw my water bottle at him. I said a lot of swear words, saying you’re not going to get away because I’m calling 911 right now. Not necessarily the smartest thing to do, but my intention was to have him be captured."
McSally said this is the third time in her life she’s been sexually attacked.
"Something we know is the most common reaction to a sexual assault is freeze," said Bailey Deroest with the Sojourner Center. "I think if you’re hearing her story, and her story is fight, that’s incredible because that’s not most people’s reaction."
"I didn’t give my power away this time," said McSally. "In my previous abuse and assault, it took me years to get it back. Yesterday, I didn’t give it away, I still have it."
MORE: McSally says in Senate hearing she was raped in Air Force
Advocates say the fact that McSally is so public and open about the violent incident is rare, because the majority of sexual assault crimes are not reported, and many victims suffer in silence.
McSally served several terms in Congress and was appointed to serve as U.S. senator for Arizona after the death of John McCain.
Police identify, arrest suspect
Man accused of assaulting Martha McSally in court
The man who police say assaulted former Arizona Sen. Martha McSally while she was jogging in Iowa has waived his right to extradition. Police say Dominic Henton followed McSally as she jogged along the Missouri River. McSally says Henton came up behind her, gave her a bear hug and fondled her. Henton was booked into a Nebraska jail for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. He will be held without bond until Iowa authorities can retrieve him.
Dominic Henton, a 25-year-old Nebraska resident, was arrested on the morning of Nov. 10 in connection to the alleged assault.
Police issued an arrest warrant for Henton after they say he followed McSally as she jogged along a pedestrian bridge and onto a trail.
"During the evening hours on 11-09-2023, an arrest warrant was issued charging Henton with one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse," police said.
Council Bluff Police confirmed that Henton was arrested in Omaha. Henton waived his right to extradition and is being held without bond in jail until Iowa authorities can retrieve him.
McSally was in Iowa to give a speech on overcoming adversity and fear. Henton is believed to be a transient who is often at the Missouri Riverfront on both the Iowa and Nebraska sides.