Survivor Stories: MJ Hegar

Photo credits: Progress Texas

In 2020, the nation was shaken by the death of 20-year-old Army specialist Vanessa Guillén, who was murdered after facing sexual harassment at Fort Hood. Her story exposed a crisis long whispered about within the military, in which survivors are ignored, reports are buried, and accountability is scarce. Among those demanding change was a woman who knew the system from the inside and had fought her own battles within it: Air Force veteran MJ Hegar.

Before she ever ran for office, Hegar had endured what far too many service members experience. During her military career, she was sexually assaulted by her physician. Even after he confessed, he walked away with praise rather than consequences. The injustice followed her for years, shaping her understanding of how deeply flawed the military justice system could be, especially for women. So, she dedicated herself to advocacy.

Hegar has spoken publicly about what it felt like to wear the uniform while knowing her own attacker faced no punishment. Her experience pushed her toward reform, and she emerged as a voice for survivors who often felt unseen and unheard.

In the wake of Guillén’s death, conversations about military sexual assault surged back into national focus. Reports showed that in 2018 alone, nearly 7,000 service members reported being sexually assaulted, numbers experts believe capture only a fraction of the truth. Advocates argued that the system was failing survivors, and policymakers began looking more closely at how to repair it.

Hegar had already been pushing for solutions. She supported legislation that would remove prosecution decisions for sexual misconduct from military commanders and place them in the hands of independent prosecutors, a reform long sought by survivors who feared retaliation or dismissal from their chain of command.

At the same time, her opponent, Senator John Cornyn, aired advertisements touting his efforts on sexual violence prevention. But his voting record told a different story. He opposed the Violence Against Women Act, supported Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination despite assault allegations, and voted against expanded protections and resources for survivors of domestic abuse and military assault. When confronted with reports that Donald Trump had insulted fallen service members, Cornyn declined to condemn the comments, frustrating veterans and families across the state.

To many Texans, Guillén’s death symbolized the failure of leadership to protect those who serve. Hegar argued that only through bold reform and leaders willing to confront the military’s systemic flaws could meaningful change occur. Her commitment reflects a resolve to build a safer future for service members to ensure every survivor is heard.

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Jurisview Journal is a student-led blog that publishes biweekly articles about interesting criminal cases. Our aim is to shed light on cases that require justice or further exploration and provide input on controversial legal events. We also publish infographics to help victims or those who wish to educate themselves on legal issues. 

In this series, Survivor Stories, we explore and share the stories of survivors of violence and crime. Through this, we advocate for justice and more attention to victims such as the survivors we feature.