The Army’s top prosecutor for sexual assault cases was suspended for allegedly groping a lawyer who worked for him, Stars and Stripes reported Thursday.
The Army is investigating a female lawyer’s allegation that Lt. Col. Joseph “Jay” Morse attempted to kiss and grope her in a hotel room at a sexual assault legal conference in 2011, two anonymous sources with knowledge of the situation told Stars and Stripes.
Morse supervised the Army’s special victim prosecutors, who are charged with prosecuting sexual assault cases. Morse was removed from his post when the allegations were raised, one source said.
An Army official who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to Stars and Stripes that an investigation was under way. The newspaper was unable to reach Morse for comment.
Morse’s suspension came to light in the wake of a sexual assault review that led to the removal of 588 military personnel from “positions of trust” due to criminal or unethical behavior.
