Top Soldier Denies All Sexual Allegations

WASHINGTON —  Silent throughout his two-month hearing on sexual-misconduct charges, Sergeant Major of the Army Gene C. McKinney submitted sworn statements to an Army hearing officer in which he denied all allegations and accused military investigators of racism and unfairness.

McKinney, the Army’s top enlisted man, says he “never entertained sexual desires” toward his original accuser, never had sex with the woman a prosecutor said he raped and wasn’t even with a woman when she said he tried to kiss her.

On Monday, the final day of the two-month hearing at Ft. McNair, McKinney’s lawyers submitted sworn statements to Col. Robert Jarvis, the officer assigned to determine whether the Army has sufficient evidence to try McKinney on allegations by six women.

The statements were not made public at the hearing, but copies of the documents were obtained Wednesday.

In a statement dated April 29, McKinney denies each of the allegations by the first four women who accused him of making improper sexual advances. One statement dated Aug. 25, the hearing’s final day, contains his denial of allegations by two other women.

Jarvis will make the initial recommendation on whether McKinney should be court-martialed. The final decision will be made by Maj. Gen. Robert F. Foley, the regional Army commander.

“I continue to question the fairness of [the] investigation being conducted by the Field Investigative Unit, U.S. Army CID,” McKinney said in the April statement

He said investigators “have refused to collect evidence that supports my innocence” and have refused to make available copies of statements made by his accusers. Jarvis later ordered the material turned over to McKinney and his lawyers.

McKinney also said that during interviews with some witnesses, the chief investigator and his partner “suggested that I am ‘only interested in white women.’ ”

“Although I was slow to believe it, I am now becoming convinced that race and ethnicity are driving the investigation and the way it is being conducted,” said McKinney, the first black person to serve in the Army’s senior enlisted post. The investigator denied ever making the suggestion, which McKinney also charged publicly.

In the statements, McKinney denied each allegation of misconduct.

“I deny the allegations of sexual misconduct and improper treatment toward Brenda Hoster,” said McKinney. “I have never entertained sexual desires toward her, and I have never suggested to her that I desired to have sexual relations with her.”

Sgt. Christine Roy was the only one to allege that McKinney had sex with her. She said she reluctantly gave in on Oct. 30, 1996, when she was almost eight months pregnant. In his closing statement at the hearing, the government prosecutor said testimony on the alleged incident justified adding rape to the charges.

“Concerning Sgt. Roy, I have never had sexual relations with her,” McKinney said in his statement.

Sgt. 1st Class Rita Jeczala testified that she came by McKinney’s quarters at Patrick Air Force Base when he visited the area. She alleged he grabbed her and tried to kiss her. McKinney said he never grabbed her. In fact, he said, “she did not visit me” at the Florida base.