Judge won’t toss Abu Ghraib charges - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Judge won’t toss Abu Ghraib charges

A military judge refused Thursday to dismiss the case against the only U.S. officer charged with crimes in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal.

Lawyers for Army Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan argued that the government exceeded a 120-day limit between charging him April 28 and arraigning him Jan. 30.

Jordan, a 50-year-old reservist from northern Virginia, directed the interrogation center at Abu Ghraib in the fall of 2003. He is accused of failing to exert his authority as prisoners were stripped naked, photographed in humiliating poses and intimidated by military dogs.

He also is accused of lying to investigators about abuses they say he witnessed.

The charges include cruelty and maltreatment of detainees, disobeying a superior officer, dereliction of duty and making false statements. He could be sentenced to up to 22 years in prison if convicted on all eight counts.

Jordan opted not to enter a plea at his arraignment. His defense at an October hearing was that he had no control over investigations and spent much of his time at Abu Ghraib trying to improve soldiers’ living conditions.

The Jordan case is the last remaining one involving the scandal. Eleven enlisted soldiers have been convicted of crimes at Abu Ghraib, and a number of officers have been reprimanded.