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Abu Ghraib Scandal Conviction Tossed

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The Associated Press

Published: January 11, 2008

BALTIMORE - The Army has thrown out the conviction of the only officer court-martialed in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, bringing an end to the four-year investigation and spurring human rights activists to complain of a Pentagon whitewash.

Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan was cleared this week of any criminal wrongdoing by Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe, commander of the Military District of Washington. Jordan was instead given an administrative reprimand, a blot on his record.

Barring any startling new information, the decision means no officers or civilian leaders will be held criminally responsible for the prisoner abuse that embarrassed the U.S. military and inflamed the Muslim world.

Jordan, 51, of Fredericksburg, Va., was acquitted at his court-martial in August of charges he failed to supervise the 11 lower-ranking soldiers convicted for their roles in the abuse, which included the photographing of Iraqi prisoners in painful and sexually humiliating positions.

He was found guilty, however, of disobeying an order not to talk about the investigation.

Jordan joins four other officers who received administrative, or noncriminal, punishment in the scandal.

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