KBR Chief Knocks Alleged Victim's Rape Claims

Dec. 13, 2007— -- In a new memo circulated to his employees, the head of government contracting firm KBR says rape allegations by an ex-employee contain "inaccuracies."

KBR "disputes portions of Ms. [Jamie Leigh] Jones' version and facts," reads the memo from Bill Utt, KBR's president, chairman and CEO. The memo's authenticity was confirmed by a KBR spokeswoman, who said the company had no further comment.

Through a spokesperson, Utt has declined to be interviewed by ABC News.

Jones alleges that several Halliburton/KBR employees drugged and gang-raped her in company quarters inside Baghdad's Green Zone in July 2005, and that the company held her for more than a day without food, drinking water or the ability to contact the outside world.

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"Attacking the victim is the oldest trick in the book," said Jones' lawyers Stephanie Morris and Todd Kelly in a statement Thursday, responding to Utt's comments. "What is inconsistent is KBR's...statement that it takes the safety and security of its employees very seriously, then locks away the women who report violations."

In a March 2006 legal filing, the company -- then owned by Halliburton -- laid out a version of events it said was based on interviews with Halliburton/KBR employees, which differs from Jones' on several points. Notably, the company says one of its human resources employees tended to Jones following the incident, provided her with food and helped her contact her family, and took a statement after Jones asked to give one.

The company denies it did anything improper.

Reached by phone Wednesday, the woman named by Halliburton/KBR as attending to Jones said she provided Jones with food and toiletries. She recalled that Jones had access to the outside world via her personal cell phone, but her memory may not be accurate, she said.

"Keep in mind, this happened several years ago," said Jamie Armstrong, who no longer works for Halliburton or KBR. Armstrong said KBR had not contacted her about the affair .

On one key point, Halliburton/KBR and Jones agree: the Army doctor who administered a rape evidence kit to Jamie after her alleged assault handed the kit to Halliburton/KBR security personnel. Halliburton/KBR's account did not mention the fate of the rape kit. It noted the company "did not interfere with the State Department's criminal investigation."

The State Department has said it referred its investigation of Jones' case to the Department of Justice, which declined comment on the matter.

In his memo, KBR's Utt assured employees that "we will continue to defend the Company [sic] in the legal process and remain committed to ensuring the arbitration process is fair."

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