General called unfit for case

Posted on Thu, Apr. 01, 2004

MILITARY


General called unfit for case

A Muslim chaplain appealing convictions on Army charges of adultery and downloading porn says the Southcom leader should remove himself from the case.

BY CORALIE CARLSON
Associated Press


A Muslim chaplain appealing convictions on Army charges of adultery and downloading pornography argued Wednesday that the commander of the U.S. Southern Command should take himself off the case, saying a letter published in The New York Times proves bias.

Capt. James Yee, 35, was once suspected of involvement in a possible espionage ring at the Guantánamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects. But he was never charged with spying and the Army dropped all criminal charges against him, leaving the adultery and porn issues.

Last week, Yee was convicted and reprimanded on the two lesser charges in an Article 15 proceeding, used by the Army for minor disciplinary issues. Yee's attorney filed an appeal Sunday, and asked that Gen. James T. Hill, SouthCom commander, take himself off the case.

The attorney, Eugene R. Fidell of Washington, supplemented the appeal Wednesday in reaction to the letter to the editor from Lt. Col. Bill Costello, a Southern Command spokesman.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/8325937.htm