Brigadier General Ron Lewis keeps his security clearance
Bobo and David send us links to USAToday which reports that Brigadier General Ron Lewis who has been admonished for using his government credit card to pay for his tab at sex clubs and his habitual drunkenness while accompanying the Secretary of Defense.
“You are reprimanded for unprofessional conduct while serving in a position of great trust that impugns your personal and professional judgment,” Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Daniel Allyn wrote in a letter to Lewis in December that was obtained by USA TODAY. “Specifically you engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behavior that included patronizing establishments of questionable character, drinking to excess in public venues, and inappropriately interacting with female civilian and military personnel.”
Despite all of that, Big Army is recommending that he keep his security clearance;
“Maj. Gen. Lewis was suspended from his job by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and was under investigation by the Department of Defense for nearly a year,” said Army spokesman Michael Brady. “During that time, DOD allowed him to retain his clearance. Given that DOD deemed him fit to retain his clearance, and that there were no allegations of mishandling classified materials in their investigation, the Army did, in fact, recommend he be allowed to retain a clearance. However, the decision is not the Army’s to make.”
I wouldn’t trust him to clean my cat’s box let alone with our nation’s secrets.
Category: Big Army
I wouldn’t let him lick my sac.
He should have been discharged.
Virtually anyone else of a lower rank would have been court-martialed and dismissed for the infractions noted above.
Not a chance. I know more than a few EMs and NCOs who did the exact same thing and got the same punishment. They were not with SECDEF but it is the same.
Likely this dude’s career is over. Do this as enlisted and it disappears at your next PCS and you can continue on.
“Not a chance. I know more than a few EMs and NCOs who did the exact same thing and got the same punishment.”
“Do this as enlisted and it disappears at your next PCS and you can continue on.”
Well, OK, if you say so.
However, you might want to take a closer look at the other posts in this thread. Most of them seem to be in agreement that anyone of a lower rank would have been hammered into the ground for doing what BGen Lewis did as described above.
Sooo, you have a list of men who can lick your sac, Senior?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Couldn’t let it pass.
Donald Trump.
:-O
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Couldn’t let it pass.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Different spanks for different ranks?
Well GEE WHIZ and Bless His Heart, did they look at his skin color and let him keep his rank and Security Clearance in fear of an EO lawsuit from the NAACP?
no, a slapdown from obozo their hero!
Well kids, once again we are reminded that there are certain rules/laws for some, and then there the rules/laws for the rest of us.
“Do as I say, not as I do.”
After Billy Bob Clinton, what did you expect? Followed by Sec Def Donald Rumsfeld? Throw in the collection of military misfits at the leadership level since then and it’s amazing we have anyone capable of finding their a$$ while sitting on their hands with a compass in their laps. We’ve got a change in place, but have to see what the New Leadership does from the top.
So the letter from V-COS Allyn was written in December. Has Mad Dog not already busted this clown out of the service?
Now that we know all of the skeletons in his closest, he can’t be blackmailed for them. So, I guess it’s ok for him to keep his clearance. /sarc off
WHAT. DA. FUCK. OVER???
Anyone “E” would have been hammered to Hell and back over this… maybe a JO would get the shit hammered out of them. But, if you are a GO/FO, it’s a slap on the wrist and “carry on”.
FUCK the GO/FO frat house and those who protect it…
No bars for stars – it’s a 240+ yr history.
“FUCK the GO/FO frat house and those who protect it…”
AMEN, PREACH IT!!!
Da Fuq?
Had that been any of us, we would be back on the block with a Big Chicken Dinner…or an OTH at a minimum.
This elitist, GO protectionist BS blows donkey nutz….DC isn’t the only swamp that needs to be drained.
Roger, your last …
This dude was a perfect target for a HUMINT operation…whether or not it’s all out on the table now should be irrelevant…it’s the consistent pattern that he displayed that reasonably questions his ability to handle classified info in the future…and at his rank and position, he had exposure to the Crown Jewels and possibly will continue to do in the future…in my experience, he’d have had his clearance pulled for good if he were anyone of lesser rank
this is exactly why he should no longer have his clearance eligibility.
I’m not sure how this vulnerability in his personal character and proven inability to follow rules and procedures can be mitigated.
I recognize that the GOFO crowd protects its own, but this guy is pretty much indefensible.
That said, on the all time list of HOF GOFO bastards, he doesn’t make the cut…
Yea, let a Joe or NCO use a Gov credit card in a “sex club” and see what happens. I’m sure I remember getting a briefing at some point that bundled up misuse of a Gov credit card with a bunch of other “don’t do this dummy” bullet points.
Boy I sure do miss those days of coming in for the 0900 work formation and being told the days training has been cancelled, we have mandatory training for “X” and we have to report 100% complete to Div before COB.
Yeah and even 1 bullet comment for GTC misuse on an NCOER and you’re done for the remainder.
It’s good to be a general, apparently.
I’m thinking a sergeant or captain who did the same (or less) wouldn’t get off so easy.
The GO network making sure that one of their boys can still get a big money gig setting up a contract “consulting firm” servicing the military.
It is noted that retention of the security clearance is pretty much a prerequisite for those high-dollar Beltway Bandit jobs – and that Army’s main reason was that DoD let him keep it for the TWO YEARS the investigation has gone on. Boils down to “well, he’s a liar and an asshole but he folded the burn bag properly – and after all, he is still one of us.” That two-year time frame lets you know whose administration is responsible.
I remember the Airman in my squadron who used his Gov’t credit card to fix his car. He was hours away from the base when his car broke down. He didn’t have enough money to pay for the repairs and didn’t want to be stuck. He feared he’d be AWOL if he didn’t get to work on time for his next shift. The whole time he planned to pay for the credit card charges before the charges became due; which he did. Not good enough for the Lt Col Squadron Commander. The Airman received an Article 15, a fine, and discharge for his troubles.
The Airman was wrong and knew it. I suggested a letter of reprimand for the Airman for misuse of the Gov’t credit card; no Article 15 because the Gov’t didn’t lose any money. No, they had to hammer the troop to make a point.
As a wise person said, “No bars for stars”.
Had a kid do the same exact thing. In Canada (we were stationed at Drum)
He called and told the section NCOIC as soon as he had done it.
Luckily I was able to smooth that one over for the kid
Had almost the same thing with one of my troopies. Confessed his sins as soon as he arrived, paid the bill, company commander pressed for Article 15. Got read by the BC, along with a long talk about responsibility, prior planning, and everything he should have done. Sent the troop out of the office while we discussed it. CSM discussed things further with the troopie and sent him back in. BC wadded up the paperwork and tossed it, stared the troopie in the eye and said “lesson learned “. Kid was the perfect Soldier from that day forward.
Had a kid call for a tow truck because her car broke down on the way to work. The Gov CC rep saw that and asked me about it, I told him “well, ask her commander what the story is before you do anything else.” That dipshit sent out an email including the battalion commander and the Bde Gov CC rep with the subject line “possible GTC abuse” and the Soldier’s name.
It was an emergency and that’s all she had for a credit card, she had it paid off before the bill even came due, but it got turned into a huge incident because of one dipshit. Luckily the Co and Bn Cdr’s let it go. But there is always one….
Part of my last duties in the military were as a Unit Security Manager, plus as the RA I was also tagged with monitoring our Purchase Cards and Travel Cards for misuse. We had people get booted out of the military for the same basic events and lose everything – with very, very little chance of appeal. Meanwhile we have Flag Officers that do even worse and are allowed to continue? Yeah, that sends a wonderful message to the troops here sportsfans. Enlisted get trashed for smaller offenses, while the upper brass keep it all. But we aren’t showing partiality…
Well we can’t have the unwashed masses being treated as well as the officer class…heaven forbid that they believe they were all created equal under the law.
Proving yet again that some animals are more equal than others….
I was just thinking the exact same thing.
“establishments of questionable character” What question? Who, among them questions the character of sex clubs and strip joints? The only thing I can figure is that he got a pass because more than once he wasn’t alone in those fine establishments, or ran into certain people at them. (“Did I mention, sir, that I have a souvenir from when we met at The Soggy Mattress? Loves my IPhone. Takes great pix.”)
So he can be trusted with probably the highest possible security clearance, but can’t be trusted with a government credit card?
Seems legit. As stated it’s doubtful a junior officer or enlisted troop would have survived this escapade. He displayed the poorest possible judgement.
I always turned down a government credit card when I went TAD. I never wanted even the sniff of impropriety. I got receipts and submitted them, often by the dozen, and waited for reimbursement. One’ character is totally under the control of the individual. I made sure mine was impeccable.
For a while we could use our own cards; it was beauty, especially, when we were deployed to an area that had no postal service. This was years before smart phones. Someone in the Mesna section of the USAF feared the troops were keeping the frequent flyer miles and other goodies so we were forbidden from using our own cards. It had been perfect, if we were somewhere where we couldn’t get the bill, our nearest of kin could pay the credit card on time. Our fore mentioned Lt Col Squadron Commander screamed at us for being late with the payments even though, in his ivory tower, he couldn’t understand why we weren’t paying our bills and being away from any Post Office, APO/FPO, or USAF Finance Office was no excuse. He said there was no excuse for overdue payments.
To solve the problem of credit card abuse; all personnel from the pay grades of E-1 through E-5 had to return their cards to the Squadron Readiness NCO. The cards would be issued to the troops when they left for deployment, any parts or services purchases needed for the job would be made by the Lt Col’s staff and no one else. I marched into the Lt Col’s office and handed him my card. He said I didn’t have to because I was an E-7. I told him, “If you don’t trust my troops, you don’t trust me!” I wonder why he didn’t like me.
My guess is that someone leaked this or otherwise tipped off USA Today in order to get momentum for DOD to revisit its former non decision to suspend or revoke the clearance.
The Army spokesperson is pretty clear that its not the Army’s call to make, I’d expect this to be publicly rectified shortly by the new leadership at DOD.
I sure hope so….what a steaming load of bullshit.
not the Army’s call to make? What patent BS!
DOD owns his clearance and the clearance granting process, not the Army.
So much for being held to a higher standard.
He sho’nuff do reminds me’o’dat disgraced Congressman William Jefferson, Democrat, Louisiana.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/former_rep_william_jefferson_t.html
Marty (gotta protect my general buddies) Dumpster ain’t happy about Ron’s treatment.
Cocksucker.
Even General ranks have their shitbirds. My question is who the fuck recommended their promotions? I know fireteam leaders and squad leaders who can outperform Generals on the battlefield — and they must think and plan while under fire, not sitting in some fancy fucking office back in the world of Disneyland and fairy tales.
SEMPER FI