SwiftVets.com

[JK]

Judicial Watch continues to go after Kerry - we should be unhappy about the foot dragging by the Govt offices, how long should it take for the Navy to assign an investigator?? Let's not forget Dept of Navy gave Kerry an easy pass on his medals - Navy followed proper procedures in awarding medals! - that's a surface review that fails to go after the substance of the charges against Kerry - let's not forget that issues has NEVER been resolved...

JK



Legal watchdog files complaint against Kerry

September 3, 2004

BY THOMAS LIPSCOMB
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The Defense Department's inspector general informed the Navy secretary Thursday of a complaint by a conservative legal watchdog group that requests an investigation into Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's military service.

Gary Comerford, a spokesman for the inspector general's office, said that "if a complaint looks like a potential violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, we refer it to the branch of service in which the violation was alleged to have occurred. We don't make a determination. It is up to the service department that has the records."

According to the complaint, filed Aug. 18 by Judicial Watch, "The, as yet, unresolved allegations include: false official reports and statements; dishonorable conduct; aiding the enemy; dereliction of duty; misuse and abuse of U.S. government equipment and property; war crimes; and multiple violations of U.S. Navy regulations and directives, the Uniform Code of Military Justice and U.S. Code."

While the inspector general and the Defense Department services have the responsibility for investigating charges under the code of military justice, in the event they have reason to believe they have identified possible violations of the U.S. civil or criminal law, they are required to refer them for investigation to the U.S. attorney general's office.

If the Department of the Navy determines after a review of documents that it is warranted, an investigator is assigned by the naval inspector general to examine the validity of the charges.

A spokesman for the Navy said that no investigator has been assigned at this time.

Thomas Lipscomb is chairman of the Center for the Digital Future in New York.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-lips03.html