Rare Corruption Case Against 4-Star Admiral Runs Headlong into Mistress Testimony Issues, Pentagon Culture
Adm. Robert P. Burke
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jordan Kirkjohnson, American Forces Network Sigonella, front, interviews Adm. Robert P. Burke, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA) and commander, Allied Joint Forces Command (JFC) Naples, during Burke’s base familiarization tour of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Aug. 6, 2020. (Kegan E. Kay/U.S. Navy)
Military.com | By Konstantin Toropin
Published December 23, 2024 at 5:56pm ET
The government's corruption case against now-retired Navy Adm. Robert Burke may be dealt a heavy blow in the coming weeks as lawyers for both the officer and the company he's alleged to have taken bribes from have filed motions to dismiss any evidence gathered from a key witness.
The witness in question is a woman with whom Burke was having an affair and who, according to court filings, went to officials with the bribery allegations after their relationship ended. The filings argue that the woman has a documented history of lying to the courts and that prosecutors failed to offer any of that information in requests for two search warrants used to gather evidence against Burke and the executives of the company that eventually hired him.
Outside legal experts say that, while the loss of a key witness may not mean an outright end to the trial, the legal framework around bribery will still make it incredibly challenging for prosecutors to get a conviction. Moreover, the case is highlighting a deeper problem within top military leadership circles, where close relationships with companies looking to do business with the Pentagon lead to problematic, if not illegal, results.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/12/23/witness-1-navy-admirals-bribery-case-hones-role-of-mistress-testimony.html
