Former second-highest ranking official in the U.S. Navy, retired four-star Adm. Robert P. Burke, who formerly served as the second-highest ranking official in the country, was found guilty of bribery by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on Monday.
The 62-year-old withdrew four-star captain was found guilty of corruption in exchange for awarding that company a federal agreement, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s press release on Monday.
According to the press release, Burke was found guilty following a five-day trial by a federal jury on charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, concealing material facts from the United States, and engaging in conduct that posed a personal financial risk.
According to a press release released on Monday, the four-star admiral oversaw U.S. naval operations in Russia, Europe, and the majority of Africa from 2020 to 2022. Burke was accused of directing the U.S. military to award significant contracts to an undisclosed training organization in exchange for a job where he could earn$ 500, 000 annually after leaving the Navy.
In a press release, Yongchul” Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, who are co-CEOs of the unnamed training company, met with Burke in July of 2021 and “agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a contract to Company A in exchange for upcoming employment at the company.”
They also agreed that Burke would use his official position to persuade other Navy officers to grant Company A another contract to train a sizable portion of the navy, according to the press release.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Burke allegedly ordered his staff to grant the company a$ 35, 000 contract to train military personnel under the admiral’s control in Spain and Italy, as well as allegedly trying to persuade another Navy admiral to grant the company a contract.
Burke is the highest-ranking member of the U.S. military to be found guilty of a federal crime while on active duty, according to Fox News.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro wrote in a post announcing Burke’s conviction that” when you abuse your position and betray the public trust, it undermines the confidence in the government you represent.” Our office and our partner law enforcement will investigate corruption, whether it be through bribes or illegal contracts, and hold those responsible, regardless of their position or title.
