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New allegations against sergeant major of the Army
February 11, 1997Web posted at: 5:00 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Army is investigating two additional allegations of sexual harassment against its highest-ranked enlisted man, a Pentagon source said Tuesday.
One of the newly-reported allegations against Army Sgt. Maj. Gene McKinney came from a complaint to the Army's sexual harassment hotline. In the other case, a Navy sailor told her commanders about the incident. Her case was passed on to the Army.
McKinney was suspended Monday pending the results of an investigation into an allegation of sexual harassment filed by retired Army Sgt. Maj. Brenda L. Hoster. The decision came a day after Hoster complained of a "different system of justice" for the service's upper tier.
McKinney had been the senior adviser to the Army's chief of staff since June 1995. The post is an elite one, considered appropriate for role models. In fact, McKinney appears on an Army-produced videotape explaining rules against sexual harassment.
"To maintain a trained and ready Army, I expect all environments to be free of sexual harassment. There is no place for sexual harassment in America's Army," he said on the tape.
Hoster, a former aide, says McKinney violated those rules, making improper advances -- including physical contact -- during an Army trip in Hawaii.
Unequal treatment for higher ranks?
Although the Army had begun an investigation into her allegations, McKinney was not relieved of his duties as soon as the allegations surfaced. On Sunday, on national television, Hoster complained that McKinney was getting special treatment since other soldiers -- at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground -- were suspended immediately when they were accused of similar acts. (12 sec. /254K AIFF or WAV sound)
Secretary of the Army Togo West said Sunday he would review the apparent inconsistency. However, "accusations, allegations are not evidence until they have been tested out," he said. "We still have to see what happens in court."
The Army Chief of Staff said McKinney -- who denies the allegations -- had been suspended because it was "increasingly difficult for McKinney to fulfill his responsibilities." He has been temporarily reassigned to duties the Army has yet to spell out, and has vacated his place on an Army panel set up to study sexual harassment.
Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and Correspondent Gene Randall contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Top Army noncom suspended over harassment allegations - February 10, 1997
- Senate panel holds hearing on military sexual harassment - February 4, 1997
- Army's highest ranking enlisted soldier accused of assault, harassment - February 3, 1997
- Pentagon brass 'disgusted' by Marine hazing ceremony - January 31, 1997
- Army charges Aberdeen drill sergeant with new rape counts - December 20, 1996
- Three soldiers arraigned in U.S. Army sex scandal - December 6, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window- Welcome to the U.S. Army Homepage
- Army Policy on EO and Sexual Harrassment
- Army Investigates Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Rape in Training Command
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