I paged through the report. It looks like they spent a lot more on producing 150 page report then what might have been lost in "marginal" travel expenses. Actually they probably spent more just redacting it! Sometimes I think organizations loose site of the big picture. This looks like blown out of proportion "fake" news event. I know everyone on here gets a big kick when I say I have this "on good authority".....but this time I have to say, the accused individual actually stepped up and helped out a recruit's family with an issue while she was on vacation. They missed that in the report
I would take all of this with a grain of salt, just my two cents.
Is your son the "recruit" she helped while on vacation? if so, do you think that colors your view of her actions?
I believe that was a credit card that was not working, so she reached out to a cadet that was traveling to help out. The bill was paid off in 28 days, and last time I checked, credit card companies usually have a 30 day billing cycle. Read that in the first article in air force times.
She received notification the card would be replaced weeks before the trip, didn't do anything about it until 2 days before the trip, blamed her staff, and then charged it to a cadet's card instead of her own, because she was already under investigation by the IG's office for the other allegations at the time this happened.
Don't get me wrong, I carry a backup and a backup to the backup credit card when I travel. Credit card companies are quick to shut down cards thinking everything is fraudulent when making purchases out of the ordinary daily purchases.
Read previous comment - this wasn't a sudden, unexpected failure of a credit card. It was due to her own inattention and failure to plan. She knew it was cancelled when she left. Even her spouse was uncomfortable with the charges going on a cadet's card.
The allegation #6 is supposedly constituting a gift, but since it was paid back in 28 days, it's seems like a stretch. This is getting close to the level of the whole quid pro quo Trump stuff. To each their own I guess.
The cadet had to chase her down to be repaid. As a parent of a cadet, this is disgusting.
"Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin wrongfully accepted a loan from a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, by requesting the cadet charge her (Brig gen Goodwin's) official travel expenses on the cadet's government credit card"
I had to read that twice. I was so dumbfounded by how stupid that is, that I just couldn't believe it at first.
So true - and so inappropriate. Who is going to say no to a general - which is why it is so inappropriate. Not to mention in contravention of rules.
It is important to note that this incident occurred WHILE SHE WAS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE IG'S OFFICE FOR THE OTHER CHARGES!
There is a LOT more to it than just charges on the cadet's card. Here's the summary of their findings on this issue, but again, there is more - read the all report for all the details.
"The preponderance of evidence supports the conclusion Brig Gen Goodwin wrongfully
accepted a gift, a loan in the amount of $831.85, for 28 days, from an Academy cadet to
cover Brig Gen Goodwin's lodging expense while they were on TOY in Hollywood, CA.
Brig Gen Goodwin's GTC was inactivated due to a Pll breach and she traveled without a
valid OTC. Brig Gen Goodwin claimed she was advised to use someone else's GTC to
pay for her travel expenses, but her testimony was inconsistent with the facts. Three
witnesses she claimed were involved in a "front office" meeting to "plan" how to cover
her travel expenses, plus two other subject matter experts in the wing, all testified
Brig Gen Goodwin did not ask for any advice. Further, they all consistently stated they
would have advised Brig Gen Goodwin to use her personal credit card if they were asked.
While checking in at the hotel, Brig Gen Goodwin asked for one of the cadets to cover
her lodging expenses - one cadet volunteered. However, it wasn't until the cadet's
inquiry nearly four weeks after the TDY that Brig Gen Goodwin contacted the cadet to
repay the debt. Brig Gen Goodwin said she waited until she was reimbursed for her hotel
expenses before paying the cadet, rather than repaying the cadet immediately on return
from TOY."