| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Home Front: Politix | |
| US Navy Intel Chief Banned From Classified Material Since 2013 | |
| 2014-11-06 | |
Vice Adm. Ted Branch cannot attend meetings where secret information is discussed and any such material must be cleared away from the desks of subordinates before he walks into their offices. He is also not able to join other intelligence top brass when they meet with Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. According to the report, if Branch, 57, is at a meeting where classified information is brought up, he must leave the room. The navy suspended Branch's security clearance in November 2013 over his connection to Glenn Defense Marine Asia, a company that provides services for the fleets ships in ports, and that is at the heart of a suspected large-scale bribery scandal. Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, the director of intelligence operations, was also stripped of his classified authorization for the same reason while the Justice Department investigates the affair. However, death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate... in the year since the two men were downgraded, the investigation has not progressed, leaving them in limbo. In the meantime, Branch, a former F-18 pilot, focuses on workforce management as well as a navy cyber-security project. GDMA CEO Leonard Glenn Francis is accused of bribing Navy officers to bring their ships to ports where he could allegedly overcharge for services. Bribes offered reportedly included junkets, hookers, and tickets to shows. Francis hoped to also obtain information about ship movements and schedules, which is classified. Navy authorities have stressed that neither Branch nor Loveless are suspected of leaking classified information. According to the New York Times ...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize... , they are suspected of accepting gifts that my have made them targets for blackmail. | |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #7 His clearance was yanked because of his supposed association with a group under investigation in a ports extortion and bribery racket. |
| Posted by: newc 2014-11-06 21:26 |
| #6 You were right the first time, John. LIED. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2014-11-06 19:20 |
| #5 |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2014-11-06 18:18 |
| #4 It is odd that VA Branch cannot attend a meeting with Clapper where classified information is discussed, particularly since Clapper lied misspoke before a Senatorial committee. Someone is trying to deep-six the admiral. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2014-11-06 18:17 |
| #3 What? No cone of silence available? |
| Posted by: Glomomp Snomosh5344 2014-11-06 14:57 |
| #2 Methinks this charade is to force Branch out and put in a true believer. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2014-11-06 11:55 |
| #1 According to cdrsalamander, what's going on is someone is trying to decide if they really need a intel chief at that level. If he has to leave the room whenever something controlled is discussed, but the people he gives info to can stay, just what does he do, anyway? That's the theory. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2014-11-06 07:56 |
