This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24470259
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Navy Vice-Adm Timothy Giardina demoted in gambling probe | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US Navy admiral who oversees the nation's nuclear weapons forces has been sacked, a Navy spokesman has said. | A US Navy admiral who oversees the nation's nuclear weapons forces has been sacked, a Navy spokesman has said. |
| Vice-Adm Tim Giardina, second-in-command of the US Strategic Command, is under investigation for illegal gambling activities. | Vice-Adm Tim Giardina, second-in-command of the US Strategic Command, is under investigation for illegal gambling activities. |
| He is accused of using counterfeit gambling chips in "a significant monetary amount" at an Iowa casino. | He is accused of using counterfeit gambling chips in "a significant monetary amount" at an Iowa casino. |
| Adm Giardina was demoted to a two-star admiral and will be reassigned pending outcome of the inquiry. | Adm Giardina was demoted to a two-star admiral and will be reassigned pending outcome of the inquiry. |
| On Wednesday, the Navy's top spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby announced the removal of Adm Giardina as the deputy in charge of the US Strategic Command. | On Wednesday, the Navy's top spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby announced the removal of Adm Giardina as the deputy in charge of the US Strategic Command. |
| Adm Giardina, a career submarine officer, was suspended from duty on 3 September after the military launched an investigation into allegations he used counterfeit chips at a casino not far from his base in eastern Nebraska. | Adm Giardina, a career submarine officer, was suspended from duty on 3 September after the military launched an investigation into allegations he used counterfeit chips at a casino not far from his base in eastern Nebraska. |
| The case was referred to the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service after he first came to be suspected of the crime. | The case was referred to the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service after he first came to be suspected of the crime. |
| Security clearance | Security clearance |
| In September, Special Agent David Dales of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation told the Associated Press news agency "a significant monetary amount" was involved. | In September, Special Agent David Dales of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation told the Associated Press news agency "a significant monetary amount" was involved. |
| "We were able to detect this one pretty quickly and jump on it," he added. | "We were able to detect this one pretty quickly and jump on it," he added. |
| It is unknown whether Adm Giardina's alleged actions at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, compromised national security or operations at Strategic Command. | It is unknown whether Adm Giardina's alleged actions at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, compromised national security or operations at Strategic Command. |
| Strategic Command, which oversees everything from America's land-based nuclear missiles to space operations governing military satellites, is located at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. | Strategic Command, which oversees everything from America's land-based nuclear missiles to space operations governing military satellites, is located at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. |
| Adm Giardina's demotion follows several other incidents affecting the US military's nuclear establishment. | Adm Giardina's demotion follows several other incidents affecting the US military's nuclear establishment. |
| In August, a nuclear missile unit at Malstrom Air Force base in Montana failed a safety and security inspection, after which a senior security officer was relieved of duty. | In August, a nuclear missile unit at Malstrom Air Force base in Montana failed a safety and security inspection, after which a senior security officer was relieved of duty. |
| In May, it was reported that 17 officers in charge of maintaining nuclear missiles were sidelined over safety violations at Minot Air Force base in North Dakota. | In May, it was reported that 17 officers in charge of maintaining nuclear missiles were sidelined over safety violations at Minot Air Force base in North Dakota. |