Top Air Force military lawyer relieved of command
Allegations of misconduct eyed
WASHINGTON -- The Air Force's top military lawyer has been temporarily relieved of command while he is investigated by the service's inspector general in alleged personal misconduct.
Major General Thomas J. Fiscus, the Air Force judge advocate general, is being investigated based on an anonymous allegation, according to a Defense Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the legal case.
The official declined to be more specific on the allegations, except to say the investigation has not reached any conclusions.
Fiscus requested to be relieved during the investigation, and his superiors approved the request on Sept. 22, according to an Air Force memo from his deputy, Major General Jack L. Rives, who will run the Air Force's legal branch in his absence.
"It is not appropriate to provide any information about the nature or status of the investigation," Rives said in the memo. "I ask each of you to refrain from speculation and to caution others that rumors and conjecture needlessly damage reputations and careers."
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Fiscus, an Air Force Academy graduate, has been the service's chief military lawyer since February 2002. He has about 1,600 lawyers under his command.
