WASHINGTON, USA: Retired four-star Admiral Robert Burke, previously the Navy’s second highest-ranking officer, was arrested Friday on charges of bribery and conspiracy. Prosecutors allege that Burke assisted a company in securing a government contract for a training program in exchange for a high-paying job post-retirement.
Burke, who served as vice chief of naval operations and oversaw naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, faces accusations of orchestrating a corrupt scheme with Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, co-CEOs of a company identified as NextJump. This company provides training programs and allegedly offered Burke a job with a starting annual salary of $500,000 after his retirement in 2022.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “The law does not make exceptions for admirals or CEOs. Those who pay and receive bribes must be held accountable.” Burke appeared in court in Miami on Friday but did not enter a plea. His defence attorney, Timothy Parlatore, asserted that Burke would plead not guilty and aim to clear his name at trial.
The Navy has promised to assist the probe in any way possible. “We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice,” said Rear Adm. Ryan Perry.
The alleged scheme dates back to 2018-2019, when NextJump provided a workforce training pilot program to the Navy, which was terminated in late 2019. Despite being directed not to contact Burke, Kim and Messenger met with him in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, proposing that Burke leverage his position to secure them a contract in exchange for future employment. By December 2021, Burke allegedly ordered a $355,000 contract to train personnel under his command in Italy and Spain, starting his role at NextJump in October 2022.
Parlatore contended that there was no relationship between the contract and Burke’s job because the contract’s worth was far less than Burke’s pay. Parlatore stated, “It just doesn’t add up that he would give them this kind of small contract for that kind of job offer.”
