Conviction of Abu Ghraib officer dismissed

[unhappycamper]

Conviction of Abu Ghraib officer dismissed
By Ben Nuckols - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 10, 2008 15:43:52 EST

BALTIMORE — The only officer charged in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, his attorney said Thursday.

A military jury convicted Army Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan in August of disobeying an order to not talk about an investigation into the abuse of Iraqi prisoners in fall 2003. Jordan was acquitted of allegations that he failed to supervise 11 lower-ranking soldiers previously convicted for their roles at Abu Ghraib.

But now, the conviction has been thrown out. Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe, commanding general of the Military District of Washington, sent Jordan’s attorney a brief memo Tuesday saying the criminal charge has been dismissed. Although a military jury voted to convict Jordan and recommended a criminal reprimand, Rowe had the final say.

The document said simply that the finding of guilty and the sentence were “disapproved” and that the charges were dismissed, said Maj. Kris Poppe, Jordan’s attorney.

Instead of the criminal reprimand, Rowe issued an administrative reprimand that questions Jordan’s decision to disobey the order from Maj. Gen. George Fay, who investigated the abuses. The action means Jordan will have no criminal conviction on his record.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_abughraib_080110/