Army Opens Inquiry of 2-Star General

The Army has opened a criminal investigation into the conduct of its former deputy inspector general, Maj. Gen. David R. Hale, the service announced Thursday.

The Army declined to say what activity prompted the investigation, but the now-retired two-star general had been under investigation by the Pentagon’s inspector general for allegations of sexual misconduct.

That investigation was concluded last week and a report was sent to the No. 2 man in the Army, Gen. William Crouch, for potential further action.

“The Army received and reviewed the Department of Defense inspector general investigation concerning retired Maj. Gen. David R. Hale. While reviewing that report, additional information surfaced warranting further investigation by the Army’s Criminal Investigative Command,” said an Army statement released at the Pentagon.

“It is standard Army practice to refer information for criminal investigation when criminal misconduct is alleged. There is no implication of guilt or innocence in this referral,” the statement said.

Hale could not be reached for comment Thursday.

His case became public after the Washington Times reported that Donnamaria Carpino, the wife of an Army colonel, charged that Hale “forced her into a four-month sexual relationship” in Izmir, Turkey, while her husband was posted there. At the time, Hale was the deputy commanding general of NATO’s allied land forces in southeastern Europe.

The report surfaced when Hale asked to retire after serving only four months in the Army inspector general’s office.

He was allowed to retire under honorable conditions.

Defense Secretary William S. Cohen sought the investigation in response to congressional complaints that senior-level military officers had been allowed to retire quietly after sexual allegations, whereas people of lower rank were court-martialed.

Gene C. McKinney, the former sergeant major of the Army, was reduced in rank and reprimanded after he was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice in a sexual misconduct case. He was acquitted of 18 counts alleging sexual harassment of six military women.