General suspended over racy messages
The Army has suspended the two- star commander of its forces in Africa after revelations about suggestive texts he sent to the wife of an enlisted soldier.
USA TODAY reported Thursday that the flirty messages, which the paper had obtained, prompted the Army to launch an inspector general’s investigation into Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington’s activities. Harrington is based in Italy, where U. S. Army Africa is posted.
Harrington is commander of the Southern European Task Force. The soldier is not under his command, but they serve at the same military installation, said Lt. Col. Armando Hernandez, a spokesman for Harrington. Through a spokesman, Harrington released a brief statement: “I look forward to the completion of the investigation.”
The Facebook messages include Harrington’s referring to the unidentified woman as a “HOTTIE,” inquiring about the whereabouts of her husband and asking her to delete the messages.
Experts say the relationship could violate military laws about the proper conduct of officers and undermine the good order and discipline essential in the ranks.
“It’s disturbing that it took a report in USA TODAY for the Army to suspend Harrington,” said Don Christensen, a former Air Force prosecutor who now heads an advocacy group for victims of sexual assault in the military. “I hope now that the Army knows it’s being watched, they will do a thorough and complete investigation of the general.”