General's attorneys want prosecutors replaced in sexual-misconduct trial
BY LOS ANGELES TIMES
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
1/23/13 at 4:33 AM
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Lawyers for an Army general accused of sexual misconduct with female officers under his command sought Tuesday to remove the prosecution team from his court martial for possessing emails protected by lawyer-client privilege.
Defense attorneys asked a military judge to disqualify four military prosecutors because emails from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair to his lawyers, wife and pastor inadvertently ended up in prosecution hands. Those communications enjoy protected legal status.
The judge, Col. James Pohl, said he will rule later on the defense motion.
Sinclair, a veteran of five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, is charged with forcible sodomy, wrongful sexual conduct, adultery, violating orders and other offenses. He could face life in prison if convicted.
Sinclair's military lawyers argued that he cannot get a fair court martial unless the prosecutors are removed. Sinclair did not enter a plea Tuesday.
Sinclair, a 27-year Army veteran, is accused of improper relationships with four subordinate female officers and a civilian.
Sinclair, who was removed from command in Afghanistan in May, is also charged with possessing pornography and alcohol while deployed and using a government charge card for personal expenses.
Original Print Headline: General's lawyers target prosecutors in misconduct case
