Army investigates major general over tawdry texts
Suggestive messages sent to subordinate’s wife
The Army launched an investigation of the major general in charge of its forces in Africa, who is suspected of sending dozens of messages, some of them suggestive, to the wife of an enlisted soldier under his command, USA TODAY learned.
The Facebook messages allegedly sent by Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington range from flattering to flirty and suggestive and include a request to the woman that she delete them. Harrington, who is married, is the two-star general in charge of U.S. Army Africa. The woman is married to an American soldier.
An expert on military law who reviewed the texts said they appeared to be in clear violation of military law, including conduct unbecoming an officer.
“With all the attention we have paid to improper relationships in the military, he just didn’t care,” said Don Christensen, a former chief prosecutor for the Air Force and president of Protect our Defenders, an advocacy group for victims of sexual assault in the military. “He should lose his command over this. It’s probably time for him to retire.”
Harrington’s name is the latest on a growing list of generals and admirals mired in scandal. Among them are top officers found to have been carousing at strip clubs, swinging with multiple partners and frequenting prostitutes in Asia.
The Army Inspector General began its inquiry after USA TODAY revealed a series of messages purportedly from Harrington sent this spring.
The woman who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she fears retaliation against her husband, told USA TODAY the texting began as friendly and related to business and said the relationship did not become physical.
Harrington is married, and adultery is a violation of military
law.
The messages, many sent late at night, veer from the mundane to the personal. Harrington oversees the Army’s activities in Africa from a post in northern Italy. In some texts, he complained about travel and getting sick on local food.
In others, he doted on the woman’s appearance, referring to her as “HOTTIE,” and “looking good for sure.” In another series he wrote: “You seem to have a great modeling resume! Truly! Though I hadn’t noticed! Where is your hubby tonight? Work?”
When she replied that she’d fought with her husband, and that he was asleep, Harrington responded: “I’m sorry! Make up se…x is fun”
Harrington suggested “U can be my nurse,” and added, “I’d enjoy being in a tent with U.”
Of particular concern to investigators, Christensen said, will be texts in which Harrington ac- knowledged that their relationship is inappropriate, others in which he suggested the two could meet and finally his request that she delete their online chats.
In one exchange, Harrington noted that, “I don’t think your husband would be happy if he knew you chatted with another man.” In another, he said “A married man giving a gift to another man’s wife.” After her reply about “friendly” gifts, he wrote: “I’d enjoy giving u a gift one day.”
Harrington also urged her at times to erase records of their chats.
“I hope u delete this exchange!” he wrote at one point. At another: “Why not delete after communicating?”
Covering up the messages indicates Harrington knew he’d crossed lines, Christensen said.
“By asking her to delete the exchanges, he seems to know it wasn’t appropriate to be involved with the wife of an enlisted man in his command,” Christensen said.