Recruits To Recant Army Rape Charges

Four female Army recruits contend they were coerced into making false rape allegations against instructors at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and will recant the accusations, an NAACP official said Monday.

The four women admit to having consensual sex with trainers at the facility, but deny they were raped, said Janice Grant, president of the Harford County chapter of the NAACP.

The women said they made the rape accusations to avoid prosecution for having consensual sex with superiors, she said. Consensual sex between superiors and subordinates is prohibited.

Grant said the four women will appear along with two of the male trainers at a news conference this morning.

Post spokesman John Yaquiant denied the women were coerced into making false accusations.

The civil rights group contends the Army has unfairly targeted black soldiers based on complaints of white female recruits. The Army denies the charge.

The four women are white, Grant said.