A man has been arrested for the alleged assault of former U.S. Senator Martha McSally of Arizona, who reported being molested while jogging along the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Council Bluffs police confirmed that the 25-year-old suspect from Papillion, Nebraska, was apprehended by officers in Omaha, Nebraska, at 3:23 a.m. The man will now be extradited back to Council Bluffs to face charges.

McSally, who failed to secure re-election in 2020, shared her harrowing experience on social media. She recounted how a man came up from behind and assaulted her, but she fought back and pursued him into the nearby brush at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park. After losing sight of the suspect, she immediately contacted the police. Thanks to video surveillance and thorough investigative work, authorities were able to identify and locate the assailant. In a Facebook post, McSally expressed her determination, saying, "You picked the wrong target."

She discussed the incident in a video posted online, describing her fight-or-flight response and her decision to confront the attacker. This assault not only affected her personally, but also tapped into the pain she had endured from past instances of sexual abuse and assault. During a 2019 Senate hearing on sexual assault in the military, McSally revealed that she had been raped by a superior officer in the Air Force but did not report it at the time due to a lack of trust in the system. However, she emphasized her choice to reclaim her power and turn the tables on her assailant this time.

As a former military officer, McSally served in the Air Force for over two decades and achieved the rank of colonel. She became the first woman to fly a combat mission in a fighter plane. In 2018, McSally was appointed to replace the late GOP Senator John McCain before eventually losing the election to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. McSally's bravery and determination to speak out about her experiences highlight the ongoing struggles faced by survivors of sexual assault. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and combatting this pervasive issue within society.