Freep Alert
Brit Hume talked about the John Lehman signature. The General with him (forgot his name but a regular on Fox) mentioned that is unlikely and highly unethical for a SecNav that wasn't in office during the original request for the citation to sign the citation. Also mentioned that he himself lost at least one of his citations and the Department of the Navy (the general is a retired marine) just told him "Here is a copy of the original".
This also just hit today - Looks like JK will be forced to answer some critial questions on these documents:
For Immediate Release
Sep 2, 2004 Contact: Press Office
202-646-5172
PENTAGON INSPECTOR GENERAL CONTACTS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY ABOUT KERRY AWARDS
Reacts to Investigation Request by Judicial Watch
(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, announced today that the Inspector General ("IG") of the Department of Defense has informed the Secretary of the Navy of Judicial Watch's "formal complaint and request for investigation, determination and final disposition of the awards granted to Lieutenant (junior grade) John Forbes Kerry, U.S. Naval Reserve."
The Defense Department IG cited Section 8(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, which states: ". . . the IG of the Department of Defense shall expeditiously report suspected or alleged violations of chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (Uniform Code of Military Justice), to the Secretary of the military department concerned or the Secretary of Defense."
On August 18, 2004, Judicial Watch filed a complaint and request for investigation and final disposition of awards granted to Kerry with the Inspectors General of the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy, as well as the Chief of Naval Operations and the Navy's Board of Decorations and Medals. See the complaint and the Department of Defense IG letter by clicking here.
On Tuesday, August 31, 2004, Judicial Watch called upon Senator Kerry to remove the Silver Star citation from his political campaign Internet site pending a review of the granting of the award by the U.S. Navy. Senator Kerry's political Internet site displays a document listing a "Silver Star with Combat 'V.'" The Combat "V" device is never awarded with the nation's third highest award for heroism. A U.S. Navy spokesperson has reportedly stated: "The Navy has never issued a 'Combat V' to anyone for a Silver Star." Additionally, former Navy Secretary John Lehman was quoted with respect to the Silver Star citation as saying: "It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me."
"We hope this is the beginning of an actual investigation of the legitimacy of Senator Kerry's awards by the Navy and the Pentagon," stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.