Senate Armed Services Committee, 2031
Sen. Cynthia Lederhaut: Admiral, this is the third woman to come forward with similar allegations. There seems to have been a pattern.
Adm. William B. Norden, Pacific Command: Senator, I flatly deny these allegations. I’m a married man. I’ve been a married man for my entire service career. I’ve never met any of these women. I’ve —
Sen. Lederhaut: But you were in Laem Chabang on the date Ms. Ginting alleges that you attacked her?
Adm. Norden: I have been there, ma’am,. I’ve been in dozens of ports. I’m a man of the sea. I couldn’t tell you the exact date off the top of my head.
Sen. Lederhaut: But you do remember you never went into the Paupau Sports Bar?
Adm. Norden: I don’t recall, ma’am, no. It’s standard for ships’ officers to conduct a walk-through of bars where the sailors might be going. I’ve been in hundreds of these establishments. But I certainly never assaulted anyone.
Sen. Lederhaut: And no one ever assaulted a local woman? This seems to have been a problem. Maybe still is a problem.
Adm Norden: Well, occasionally we do have sailors commit crimes while ashore, unfortunately — they also commit them at sea and at home, I would add. But they are punished to the full extent of military law.
Sen. Lederhaut: Back to the subject: how do you account for Ms. Ginting’s accusations? And Ms. Ocampo? Ms. Reyes? Maybe there was a misunderstanding? Maybe they mistook you for someone else?
Adm. Norden: I suppose they might be mistaken, Senator. I suppose they might also be lying.
Sen. Lederhaut: Did they all get together and make this up? Is it a conspiracy?
Adm. Norden: When the impossible has been eliminated, whatever remains — however implausible — is the truth.
Sen. Lederhaut: And these allegations are impossible?