GyBill
11-05-2010, 11:39
New criminal probe launched at Arlington
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 5, 2010 13:05:29 EDT
The Army has launched a new criminal investigation into problems at Arlington National Cemetery, where previous inquiries found hundreds of troops were buried improperly and millions in taxpayers’ dollars were wasted.
The latest investigation began after the executive director of the Army Cemeteries Program, Kathryn Condon, “became aware of some questionable practices that took place” at the cemetery,” said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Command.
“We took a look and we found credible information so we opened an investigation and that is now ongoing,” Grey said Friday.
He declined to say when the investigation began or provide any other details.
In June, the Army Inspector General found irregularities with the remains of at least 211 troops buried at Arlington. Problems included mishandled remains, remains buried in graves marked as empty and graves marked with wrong names.
A Senate panel estimated the number of burial errors could run as high as 6,600.
The IG investigation also found millions of dollars were spent on a failed program to digitize cemetery burial records, many of which are still kept on paper index cards.
The cemetery’s former deputy, Thurman Higginbotham, was summoned before a Senate panel in July to respond to the allegations, but Higginbotham asserted his Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination and refused to answer lawmakers’ questions.
Higginbotham was responsible for all Arlington information technology contracts, according to the IG.
There is no evidence that Higginbotham is involved in the current probe, and his attorney did not return a call for comment.
Army investigators concluded a probe of alleged misconduct at Arlington last year and gave the results to a federal prosecutor, who declined to press charges, citing a lack of evidence.
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 5, 2010 13:05:29 EDT
The Army has launched a new criminal investigation into problems at Arlington National Cemetery, where previous inquiries found hundreds of troops were buried improperly and millions in taxpayers’ dollars were wasted.
The latest investigation began after the executive director of the Army Cemeteries Program, Kathryn Condon, “became aware of some questionable practices that took place” at the cemetery,” said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Command.
“We took a look and we found credible information so we opened an investigation and that is now ongoing,” Grey said Friday.
He declined to say when the investigation began or provide any other details.
In June, the Army Inspector General found irregularities with the remains of at least 211 troops buried at Arlington. Problems included mishandled remains, remains buried in graves marked as empty and graves marked with wrong names.
A Senate panel estimated the number of burial errors could run as high as 6,600.
The IG investigation also found millions of dollars were spent on a failed program to digitize cemetery burial records, many of which are still kept on paper index cards.
The cemetery’s former deputy, Thurman Higginbotham, was summoned before a Senate panel in July to respond to the allegations, but Higginbotham asserted his Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination and refused to answer lawmakers’ questions.
Higginbotham was responsible for all Arlington information technology contracts, according to the IG.
There is no evidence that Higginbotham is involved in the current probe, and his attorney did not return a call for comment.
Army investigators concluded a probe of alleged misconduct at Arlington last year and gave the results to a federal prosecutor, who declined to press charges, citing a lack of evidence.