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| Army general in Fort Bragg court over subordinates' allegations of sex crimes | Army general in Fort Bragg court over subordinates' allegations of sex crimes |
| (5 months later) | |
| US army prosecutors offered the first details of a rare criminal case against a general, alleging in a military hearing Monday he committed sex crimes against five women, including four subordinates and a civilian. | US army prosecutors offered the first details of a rare criminal case against a general, alleging in a military hearing Monday he committed sex crimes against five women, including four subordinates and a civilian. |
| An article 32 hearing on evidence in the case against Brig Gen Jeffrey Sinclair opened Monday at Fort Bragg, a sprawling post that is home to the 82nd airborne division. Officials said it was expected to last at least two days. | An article 32 hearing on evidence in the case against Brig Gen Jeffrey Sinclair opened Monday at Fort Bragg, a sprawling post that is home to the 82nd airborne division. Officials said it was expected to last at least two days. |
| Sinclair faces possible courts martial on charges including forcible sodomy, wrongful sexual conduct, violating orders, engaging in inappropriate relationships, misusing a government travel charge card, and possessing pornography and alcohol while deployed. He served as deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the division's troops in Afghanistan from July 2010 until he was sent home in May because of the allegations. | Sinclair faces possible courts martial on charges including forcible sodomy, wrongful sexual conduct, violating orders, engaging in inappropriate relationships, misusing a government travel charge card, and possessing pornography and alcohol while deployed. He served as deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the division's troops in Afghanistan from July 2010 until he was sent home in May because of the allegations. |
| Before prosecutors could begin presenting their case Monday, defence lawyer Lt Col Jackie Thompson said military investigators had violated Sinclair's rights by reading confidential emails he had exchanged with his lawyers and wife discussing the accusations against him. | Before prosecutors could begin presenting their case Monday, defence lawyer Lt Col Jackie Thompson said military investigators had violated Sinclair's rights by reading confidential emails he had exchanged with his lawyers and wife discussing the accusations against him. |
| Under questioning from Thompson, the lead investigator in the case acknowledged she had read the confidential e-mails, violating the terms of the subpoena used to obtain them from Sinclair's service provider. Those e-mails were later turned over to prosecutors, who are barred from seeing Sinclair's communications with his counsel. | Under questioning from Thompson, the lead investigator in the case acknowledged she had read the confidential e-mails, violating the terms of the subpoena used to obtain them from Sinclair's service provider. Those e-mails were later turned over to prosecutors, who are barred from seeing Sinclair's communications with his counsel. |
| Thompson then asked criminal investigative command special agent Leona Mansapit if she had the resources she needed to conduct a proper investigation in Sinclair's case. | Thompson then asked criminal investigative command special agent Leona Mansapit if she had the resources she needed to conduct a proper investigation in Sinclair's case. |
| "Probably not, sir," Mansapit replied. "I wish I had." | "Probably not, sir," Mansapit replied. "I wish I had." |
| The defence is asking the hearing officer, Maj Gen Perry L Wiggins, to either require all new prosecutors be assigned or have the case thrown out. | The defence is asking the hearing officer, Maj Gen Perry L Wiggins, to either require all new prosecutors be assigned or have the case thrown out. |
| Until now, the army had kept details secret in the rare criminal case against a high-ranking officer. In other high-profile cases, army prosecutors have been quick to release charging documents. | Until now, the army had kept details secret in the rare criminal case against a high-ranking officer. In other high-profile cases, army prosecutors have been quick to release charging documents. |
| In one case, prosecutors also said that Sinclair threatened one woman's career, as well as her life and the lives of her relatives, if she told anyone about his actions. | In one case, prosecutors also said that Sinclair threatened one woman's career, as well as her life and the lives of her relatives, if she told anyone about his actions. |
| Sinclair's attorney asked for the charges to be thrown out, arguing that the prosecutors had read confidential emails between the general and his defence. Defence attorney Lt Col Jackie Thompson said this violated his client's rights and asked that new prosecutors be brought in to try the case. | Sinclair's attorney asked for the charges to be thrown out, arguing that the prosecutors had read confidential emails between the general and his defence. Defence attorney Lt Col Jackie Thompson said this violated his client's rights and asked that new prosecutors be brought in to try the case. |
| The hearing officer called a recess until early Monday afternoon to give a legal adviser time to review the documents. | The hearing officer called a recess until early Monday afternoon to give a legal adviser time to review the documents. |
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