A Navy commander was accused of sexual misconduct during a party at the Pentagon in 2016 but remained in his job as a spokesman for a top admiral in the Navy.
The commander was reported to have exhibited “predatory behavior” when he slapped a woman in the buttocks while dressed as Santa Claus.
Cdr. Chris Servello, 41, served as a spokesman for Adm. John Richardson, the Chief of Naval Operations, until August, roughly eight months after Capt. Peter Hudson completed an inquiry into the booze-filled party at the Pentagon and recommended Servello be “reassigned immediately” to a position with “no supervisory responsibilities,” according to USA Today.
Richardson is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Vice Adm. James Foggo, director of the Navy Staff, received Hudson’s report, which was completed Dec. 21. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service also launched an investigation into Servello’s behavior, and that probe was completed in the spring.
The investigation into Servello’s misconduct began after an office Christmas party held at the Navy’s public affairs headquarters Dec. 16.
According to USA Today, which compiled details of the events from Hudson’s inquiry, NCIS reports, and witness statements, the bar at the party opened at 11 a.m. and remained open for six hours.
Servello reportedly told investigators in a statement he had four drinks, which included a shot of Fireball whiskey, and wore a Santa suit because, “I thought it would be fun.”
A civilian woman working in the public affairs office told Navy investigators Servello “slapped her on the buttocks without her consent” during the gathering.
The woman “did not feel she was a sexual assault victim, but felt humiliated and disrespected by [Servello’s] actions,” a NCIS document said.
Another woman who is an officer below Servello told investigators the commander gave her “unwelcome” hugs, and she rebuffed his actions.
The officer also said Servello told her at the Christmas party he “didn’t know how to act with her, since the last time he was alone with her ‘he was practically humping [her] leg.'”
Servello and other officers decided to leave the Pentagon after the party ended and have dinner at a nearby restaurant, according to the report. After leaving the restaurant after dinner, Servello placed six calls to a young female officer he was seated next to and sent her two text messages.
In his report about Servello’s actions, Hudson said he didn’t believe the “incident rises to sexual harassment.” However, he said Servello “clearly appears to have exhibited predatory behavior in targeting a young [lieutenant] who had too much to drink.”
Hudson also said Servello exhibited a pattern of using his position within the public affairs office to make advances on his female colleagues.
“Specifically, he has shown a pattern of using his outstanding professional reputation and standing in the [Public Affairs Officer] community as an advantage in attempting to develop sexual relationships,” Hudson wrote in his report. “He has made very strong advances in both cases involving alcohol toward at least two different junior officers that either have worked for him in the past or see him on a regular basis through normal conduct professional PAO business.”
In a statement, Servello said his career is permanently damaged because of the allegations, and said criminal charges were ultimately not filed.
“I have cooperated fully with all investigations conducted by the Navy,” Servello said. “Ultimately, the allegations were unproven and charges were not filed. I should have never put myself into a situation where my judgment or my military bearing could be called into question. I deeply regret this and have been held to account for my decision making. Indeed, the overall effect of the administrative counseling makes it highly unlikely that my career will recover.”
Richardson, who Servello worked directly for, said in a statement to the newspaper he waited to punish the commander for his actions until after the investigations were completed.
“I followed the prosecutor’s recommendations to the letter, imposing several adverse measures including dismissing Cdr. Servello from the staff and reassigning him to a non-supervisory position,” Richardson said. “I was advised by legal counsel throughout, and due process was strictly followed to safeguard both the dignity and safety of the complaints and the rights of Cdr. Servello.”
