Senior CAF officer steps aside months into sexual misconduct investigation against him – National

A senior army officer within the Canadian Armed Forces has been positioned on depart months after a sexual misconduct investigation him first began, World Information has confirmed.

An announcement Friday from the CAF confirmed a report first published by the Globe and Mail that the army’s head of personnel, Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan had stepped apart from his position.

The CAF mentioned that Whelan’s depart is efficient instantly.

The assertion mentioned that the performing chief of defence workers, Gen. Wayne Eyre, was first notified in June that army police had opened an investigation into Whelan, who was not initially made conscious of it resulting from issues a couple of attainable impression on the investigation.

“Because the onset of the investigation, the scenario has been topic to an ongoing and deliberate evaluation by the VCDS with regard to sufferer impression, his persevering with employment, and impression on the office,” learn the assertion.

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Report: Sexual misconduct in CAF stays “rampant”

In a press release Friday, the Canadian Forces Nationwide Investigation Service mentioned that it has obtained an allegation of sexual misconduct in opposition to Whelan, and that it’s nonetheless ongoing.

“The Navy Police don’t, by apply, proactively disclose the existence of ongoing investigations,” learn the assertion.

Whelan is the newest in a number of senior army officers who’re dealing with investigations or allegations of sexual misconduct in latest months.

The Canadian Forces is dealing with what consultants have described as an institutional “disaster” since World Information first reported on high-profile allegations in opposition to senior management earlier this 12 months.

Information of the probe into Whelan comes as Adm. Artwork McDonald, who’s on depart from his position as chief of the defence workers, is dealing with heavy criticism for his determination to ship a letter to senior army colleagues through which McDonald claimed he has been exonerated of a sexual assault allegation in opposition to him, which he has denied.

McDonald is demanding he be reinstated to the highest job, which is at present being crammed in an performing capability of Gen. Wayne Eyre.

Eyre on Friday responded to the letter despatched by McDonald, calling it “stunning.”

— With information from World Information’ Sean Boynton.