美準將與情婦打架被停職

中國日報網 2013-05-23 11:05

An Army brigadier general who commanded a South Carolina post has been suspended for allegedly having a physical altercation with a mistress, officials said Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Bryan T. Roberts, the top commander at Fort Jackson, is the latest in a string of senior military officials who have come under investigation for alleged misconduct. The case comes amid an outcry from lawmakers and other critics who say the Pentagon is failing to address pervasive sexual harassment and assault in the ranks.

“The allegations are being thoroughly investigated,” said Harvey Perritt, a spokesman for the Army Training and Doctrine Command. Perritt said the Army’s criminal investigations division is handling the probe. Army officials did not say when the incident is alleged to have taken place or how it came to their attention. Perritt said Roberts would not be available to comment.

A defense official said Roberts got into a physical altercation with a woman with whom he was having an affair. “These are not allegations of sexual assault or harassment,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

If investigators find enough evidence, Roberts could be charged with assault and adultery, which is a crime under military law.

Brig. Gen. Peggy C. Combs, who runs the Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., will take over Roberts’s duties until the matter is resolved, the Army said in a statement. Roberts had been at the helm of Fort Jackson, a large Army training base, since April 10, 2012.

Two other Army generals have been investigated in recent months for allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair, the former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, was charged last year with rape and other charges that involved an affair with a subordinate. His case has not gone to trial. Maj. Gen. Ralph O. Baker, who led a counterterrorism force in Africa, was fired in March after being investigated for allegedly groping a woman while he was under the influence of alcohol.

The Army disclosed last week that it was investigating a soldier at Fort Hood in Texas assigned to be his unit’s sexual assault prevention officer for alleged sex abuse and prostituting a fellow soldier.

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據美國《華盛頓郵報》報道，美國官員5月21日稱，一名陸軍準將涉嫌與情婦發生肢體沖突，目前已被停職。

布萊恩?羅伯茨準將為美國南卡羅來納州杰克遜堡最高指揮官，也是一系列因性丑聞被調查的又一位高級軍官。

“我們正在徹查這項指控。”美國陸軍訓練和條令司令部發言人哈維?佩里特說。佩里特稱，陸軍犯罪調查部門負責調查。不過，軍方沒有透露該案何時發生，如何引起他們的注意。

一名國防部官員稱，羅伯茨和一名與其私通的女性發生肢體沖突?！斑@并非性騷擾和性攻擊指控。”由于調查還在進行，這位官員不便透露姓名。

如果證據確鑿，羅伯茨可能被控攻擊和通奸。依據軍法，這已構成犯罪.

陸軍發布的聲明稱，在案件完結之前，美國陸軍化學、生物、放射和核武學校校長佩吉?庫姆斯準將接替羅伯茨的職務。羅伯茨自2012年4月10日起入主杰克森堡這一大型陸軍訓練基地。

近幾個月還有其他兩位高級軍官因涉嫌不當性行為而遭到調查。第82空降師前副師長杰弗里?辛克萊準將去年被控強奸和與部下私通，目前案子尚未審判。曾在非洲領導“反恐”行動的拉爾夫?貝克少校因被控酒后騷擾女性遭調查，于今年三月被解職。

美國陸軍上周公布，得克薩斯州胡德堡一士兵因被指控性虐待和逼迫戰友賣淫而受到調查。該士兵恰恰負責預防性侵害事務。

由于性丑聞頻發，立法者與批評人士表示強烈不滿，他們認為五角大樓對無所不在的軍中性騷擾和性攻擊行為處置不力。