Former U.S. Navy commander facing corruption charges

Former four-star Adm. Robert Burke and two other individuals were arrested Friday on bribery and conspiracy charges. In the indictment against Burke, which was unsealed on Friday, prosecutors allege he sought to secure government contracts for a company that offered training to the U.S. Navy in exchange for a job there after he retired from the Navy, violating federal regulations. Burke’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, told WORLD on Monday that his client was innocent, that the allegations would go to trial, and that his client would be found not guilty.

What is alleged to have happened in this case? Prosecutors allege that the U.S. Navy had contracts with an unnamed company—“Company A,” in the indictment—to provide employee training. The Navy then terminated that contract. Representatives from the company then reached out to Burke, asking if the contract could be renewed. The representatives were told not to contact Burke again but that their contract request was being reviewed.

However, the company representatives did contact Burke again, prosecutors say. The company officials contacted him several times after being told they were not permitted to do so. Eventually, they met with him in Washington, D.C., and New York City, where they hammered out an agreement whereby Burke would stay in the Navy for six more months before retiring—during which he would advocate for the company’s interests and try to get their contract renewed. In exchange, Burke would have a job waiting for him at the company after his retirement, where he would receive a starting salary of $500,000 a year and 100,000 stock options.

The company eventually received a contract for $355,000 to train U.S. Navy staff under Burke’s command, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors also allege that during the next six months, Burke petitioned other high-ranking Navy officers to award additional contracts to the company. Prosecutors allege that Burke made false statements during these discussions, in statements made to a Navy ethics counselor, and on forms for the Office of Government Ethics. The alleged false statements were about his retirement plans, discussions with company executives, and relationship with the company. After leaving the military, Burke began working for the company and receiving the promised salary.

What would the penalty be if he’s convicted? Burke faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison if convicted, and the other individuals charged—executives in the company—face a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Dig deeper: Read Emma Freire’s report in WORLD Magazine about the politicization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.