Free Republic

In response to queries from The Post, the Navy recently confirmed that it has been reviewing the conduct of 440 other active-duty and retired personnel — including 60 current and former admirals — for possible violations of military law or federal ethics rules in their dealings with Francis and his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia. That is double the number of admirals whom Navy officials said were under investigation last year (The Navy has about 210 admirals on active duty). The caseload has grown as the Justice Department has given the Navy additional dossiers of individuals who did not meet...

The Navy has suspended two admirals in a broadening bribery scandal that already has ensnared three senior naval officials. Involving charges of prostitution and payoffs, the scandal is the U.S. military’s highest-profile case of officer misconduct this year — part of a trend that has caused deep concern among Pentagon officials. The number of substantiated cases of misconduct has increased steadily since 2008, according to statistics by the Defense Department’s inspector general. The Navy is investigating Vice Adm. Ted Branch, director of naval intelligence, and Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, director of intelligence operations, on accusations of “illegal and improper relations”...