Resigning in lieu of courts-martial can allow military to avoid publicity

[unhappycamper]

Resigning in lieu of courts-martial can allow military to avoid publicity
By Nancy Montgomery, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, April 7, 2008

Resignations in lieu of courts-martial can be a way for the military to avoid adverse publicity from a public and potentially sensational trial.

Days before the court-martial of the nation’s first female B-52 pilot on adultery and other charges in 1997, the Air Force Secretary suggested she’d consider allowing 1st Lt. Kelly Flinn to resign with an honorable discharge in order to avoid “further spectacle of a high-profile court-martial,” according to the New York Times.

An honorable discharge under those circumstances would have been highly unusual.

Flinn was facing charges of adultery, fraternization, disobeying a direct order and making a false sworn statement.

The Air Force was concerned not only because the prosecution was unpopular but the court-martial could have exposed other cases of adultery, fraternization or other crimes under military law that have not been prosecuted, the Times said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53890