First on CNN: General disciplined over e-mail about member of Congress
By Barbara Starr
Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey has privately disciplined one of his top generals, who has been investigated by the Army for sending an inappropriate e-mail about a female member of Congress, CNN has learned.
Two senior U.S. military officials said Brig. Gen. Martin P. Schweitzer was ordered by Dempsey to no longer participate in weekly briefings to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel about the movement of troops around the world.
The Pentagon has been under scrutiny for several lapses in ethical behavior among top generals and in the ranks. Hagel has publicly made ethics a top priority.
Army officials said Schweitzer was investigated by the Army inspector general for an e-mail he apparently sent while serving as a colonel with the 82nd Airborne Division.
He had met with Rep. Renee Ellmers, a North Carolina Republican, and then allegedly sent an e-mail to other Army personnel referring to her as "smoking hot" and referencing sexual acts.
Army officials said he was "counseled," but was then promoted to brigadier general. The Army now has his promotion to two-star general on hold before forwarding it to the Senate for consideration.
One official said Dempsey took the action about two or three weeks ago "very deliberately" to cut the general's access to the secretary of defense, in part because of a growing furor inside the ranks about ethical lapses.
The official also acknowledged that Dempsey took the action just as senior Pentagon officials became aware that the Washington Post was preparing to publish an article on January 26 about several senior officers under investigation for misconduct, including Schweitzer.
It's an extraordinary action to take because Schweitzer, as deputy director of regional operations for the Joint Chiefs, oversees a highly classified briefing about information presented to Hagel weekly.
It's one of the most critical briefings at the Pentagon because the secretary of defense is asked to sign each military order to send troops to any locations overseas.
Both officials declined to be identified but have direct knowledge of the action. One of the officials spoke directly to Schweitzer on Thursday to confirm details.
At the time of the inspector general investigation, the Army said Schweitzer apologized in a statement that said in part "my comments were a terrible attempt at humor."
He declined further comment to CNN through a military spokesman.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
No control , no self-discipline , this general is an animal I guarantee you he doesn't have one daughter in his life. If he did he would be talking about these things .
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We have had a president having his knob licked in the Oval Office who later lies under oath, a current president incapable of telling the truth, a vice president with a foul mouth who is not reticent at all to use it in public, congressmen who lie steal and cheat to make a buck, and a compliant media who pretend that what these people do in their private life should have no effect on their public service, why is anyone amazed that the people down along the chain of command lose any sense of virtue and integrity? Either force all politicians and people in leadership positions to have basic moral standards or quit your whining and complaining when the results of a degenerate media become evident in all aspects of public life. CNN, you bear a major part of the blame for our national degeneracy. Suck it up.
I served in Iraq and saw first hand the abuse in authority in my own chain of command. At times even kept me from doing my job. But these problems Are never made known.
General Schweitzer needs to get out more, if he feels obligated to call her smoking hot. Maybe compared to Debbie Wasserman=Shultz, she is. But she is just a normal woman in nice clothes.
If they really actually care about national defense/security/etc, they need to realize that PROPORTIONALITY and JUDGEMENT are keys to maintaining good order and discipline. A guy -even a General – who says a good looking woman is a good looking woman does not deserve to be disciplined especially if it's in private. A guy who rapes a 14 year old Iraqi civilian girl and murders her and her family should be hung on site in Iraq in the center of town by our troops and his body should be buried there and the families of the victims should receive a formal written apology from the CENTCOM commander.and compensation.
Until you really punish them, they will continue to do and say such things and their subordinates will learn that they will only get a slap on the wrist if they do it.
I'm not sure which person's punishment you're talking about.
In the case of BG Schweitzer, his reprimand is a VERY serious punishment. His military career will be prematurely ended. It's likely his promotion to 2-star General will be delayed, if he's lucky, but probably withheld, completely.
And all of this for private comments, not meant for publication, about an attractive woman, who just happens to be a member of congress.
If his promotion is withheld, he may be asked to retire, prematurely.
How does that affect him? Well, let's use an analogy. If you are an executive at the pinnacle of your career, with a very bright future, including more promotions, and you are terminated for cause, how would that affect your current and future paychecks, your future employability, and your family relationships?
Indeed, the punishment is SERIOUS!
Come on guys. You know you are being targeted. You know their capabilities. Make it difficult on them , stop making it so easy.