THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 6, 1996 TAG: 9601060236
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
The Navy's top civilian official moved Friday to cancel the promotion to rear admiral of Capt. Everett L. Greene, saying issues raised during Greene's trial last fall on sexual harassment charges raise questions about his fitness for flag rank.
Navy Secretary John H. Dalton concluded that he ``does not have sufficient trust and confidence in Capt. Greene's judgment'' to permit the veteran officer's advancement, a Navy spokesman said.
Greene was acquitted last fall of harassment and fraternization charges brought by two female lieutenants who worked for him at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington during 1993.
But while a jury of naval officers absolved Greene of criminal wrongdoing, a Navy official said Dalton was disturbed by evidence produced at the trial concerning the nature of Greene's relationship with the women.
In particular, the official said, Greene was concerned about the tone of notes Greene sent the women. In the most highly publicized of those notes, Greene wrote one of the women that ``whenever you need to be adored, I will be there.''
Greene has insisted that the notes were his way of trying to help the woman, who had sought his counsel, through emotional and medical problems growing out of a failed romance with another naval officer. There was no allegation that he had a sexual relationship with either lieutenant.
Greene met with Dalton for about an hour late Thursday in an effort to salvage his promotion but apparently was unable to satisfy the secretary's concerns. He was en route to San Diego, where he is stationed, when Dalton's decision was announced Friday, but his lawyer promised that Greene will appeal Dalton's recommendation to Defense Secretary William J. Perry.
``The captain is extremely disappointed,'' said Lt. Cmdr. William Little, Greene's lawyer. But ``he's not going to quit.''
KEYWORDS: SEXUAL HARASSMENT PROMOTION by CNB