Air Force busts retired four-star general down two ranks for coerced sex

I am sorry, but he got off way too easy. Now picture this scenario if the offender was a Master Sergeant...busted to Airman, a bad conduct (Dishonorable) discharge, Loss of ALL Benefits and a lovely multi-year stay in Hotel Leavenworth...A double standard...I don't care if he served honorably until MG his past glories do not exuse his present guilt...It seems that under UCMJ past performance does play a big part in determining the penalty phase...he should have been brought down to Colonel at the minimum, he is the one that is supposed to adhear to the standards and set the example, he didn't...I have heard and witnessed of other such instances of misconduct by senior leaders that got off with a slap. Some people in the House of Representatives have suggested that JAG (with the exception of deployed environments) be moved to the civilian courts...now that would be interesting to see...Grrrrrr!

The article has a sentence or two on it, but because the statute of li itations had passed, they couldn't go the UCMJ route, with all the punishment options avaialble. So given that, they used a provision of retirement law that says you retire at the last rank that an officer served satisfactorily. Since the events took place when he was a three and four star, they reduced his retirement to a two star. If it had happened while he was a two star, they could have made him a one star, etc. but technically it's not a punishment for a crime but rather an administrative determination of which rank he last successfully completed.

The reason he wasn't busted any harder is that the statute of limitations according the UCMJ is 5 years. He retired in 2010 and the individual he coerced didn't come forward with accusations till 2016. Therefore the only action the leadership could take was to admin demote him two stars. Which is a lot in retirement pay. Also by having this on his record, he will more than likely not be on the board of directors for various companies, will not be a consultant to Defense contractors, and probably will not be on the speaking circuit. He will be know as the Reprimanded General that can't control himself in those type of circles and that means a lot. I wish the statute of limitations had not run out...if it hadn't they could have busted him down with other punishments but unfortunately their hands were legally tied. He did get off way to easy in my book.