A national defense analyst believes the Army has sufficient evidence against a general who has been charged with adultery and other sex crimes.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair had served as deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the 82nd Airborne Division, a high-profile unit of the Army. But he now faces possible courts-martial on charges that include forced sex, wrongful sexual conduct, possessing pornography and alcohol while deployed, misusing a government travel charge card, and filing fraudulent claims.
The 27-year Army veteran was serving his third deployment in Afghanistan before being sent home in May. He had also served two tours in Iraq and the first Gulf War.
"They've obviously done a significant investigation here, and they have many witnesses, I suspect," comments Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis (USA-Ret.). "Otherwise, these charges wouldn't have been forthcoming against a senior official."
Maginnis, who now serves as senior fellow for national security at the Family Research Council, believes the Army is prepared to make an example of Sinclair, if the allegations prove to be true.
"They are supposed to be the cream of the crop; they're supposed to set the example. And clearly, if these allegations are true, this general has obviously failed significantly to uphold the reputation of the Army, has embarrassed the general officer corps," he concludes.
The next step will be an Article 32 hearing, which is a military version of a grand jury.