A Pentagon inspector general report has concluded that the two-star general who was Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s senior military assistant misused his government credit card in strip clubs, lied about it, drank to excess and engaged in inappropriate behavior with female subordinates.
In response, Maj. Gen. Ron Lewis admitted to “mistakes and errors in judgement,” but disputed many of the report’s findings, including denying he patronized the “Candy Bar” strip club in South Korea, and a “gentlemen’s club” in Rome. Carter fired Lewis last year.
Lewis also said investigators mischaracterized his relationship with the senior female enlisted service member in Hawaii and with the female Defense Department civilian subordinate in Malaysia.
Immediately following the release of the IG report Thursday, Carter said he was briefed on the findings and has referred the matter to the Department of the Army for appropriate discipline.
“I will defer any further comment on the report pending the Army’s review,” Carter said in a statement.
“As I said when I first learned about allegations of misconduct against Maj. Gen. Lewis and removed him as my Senior Military Assistant, I expect the highest possible standards of conduct from the men and women in this department particularly from those serving in the most senior positions. There is no exception.”
Investigators says they substantiated all the major allegation against Lewis, which included using his government credit card for personal expenses, lying about it, and numerous instances of “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.”
The IG report details multiple occasions when Lewis patronized establishments off-limits to U.S. military personnel, drank to excess in public, and engaged in improper interactions with female subordinates.
Most of the misconduct cited by investigators occurred while Lewis was accompanying Carter on official travel as his special military assistant.
In one case, in June 2014, Lewis patronized the Candy Bar in Seoul, which the report said is located in an area referred to locally as “Hooker Hill,” and declared strictly off-limits to U.S. military personnel.
The bars and clubs in that part of the city are known for prostitution, drugs and underage drinking.
According the receipts from his government-issued credit card, Lewis dropped $1,121.25 at the club, including an 81 percent tip.
The report says Lewis later disputed charge with Citibank, which removed the charge and issued him a new card.
In October of 2015, Lewis racked up a $1,755.98 at the Cica Cica Boom club in Rome, which advertises a “Sexy Show,” “Fans Club” and “Lap Dance.” Lewis said, after dancing with local women and drinking to “more than moderation” for three hours, he was forced to use his government card to pay the bill because his personal debit card wouldn’t work. One of the women at the club went with him to his hotel, as he retrieved his government card to make sure he paid.
The IG report also details a number of inappropriate interactions with women, in which Lewis, who is married, made romantic overtures to female subordinate, including junior enlisted military personnel, and at least one DoD civilian.
Among the incidents cited was one case in Hawaii in which Lewis got drunk and tried to kiss a female subordinate in his hotel room. She rejected his advances.
While traveling in Malaysia, his openly flirtatious interactions with a female subordinate became a topic of conversation and concern among other members of the travel delegation.
And in California, Lewis was found to have invited a female enlisted service member into his hotel room twice and conducted official business with her while he was shirtless and dressed only in gym shorts.
