It’s the most fitting example of the buffoonery and wastefulness that plagues President Barack Obama’s legacy.
One of the Obama administration’s senior military aides, who served directly under Obama appointee Defense Secretary Ash Carter, was caught billing taxpayers for multiple trips to strip clubs or gentlemen’s clubs around the world, where he drank in excess and had “improper interactions” with women during business travel with Carter, according to a report released Thursday by the Defense Department inspector general.
Under other presidents, this would be a major scandal.
Under Obama, however, this kind of disorder and corruption is business as usual.
The 50-page report describes in detail two strip clubs or show clubs where the aide, Maj. Gen. Ron Lewis, spent more than $1,000 on champagne and drinks. It includes conflicting statements that Lewis made to investigators explaining the outings, and on several occasions quotes his acknowledgement that he was drunk or drank to “more than moderation.”
Lewis submitted a written rebuttal slamming the investigation and claiming he was railroaded, saying the IG assembled an inaccurate and inflammatory case based on innuendo and had failed to “find the truth.”
The inspector general’s report says Lewis improperly used his credit card, lied to a bank to get charges removed and said he was guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer, a violation of the code of military justice.
The report also details several inappropriate interactions Lewis had with women, including one late-night incident in his hotel room when he was drinking with a female enlisted service member who later told investigators he tried to kiss her. According to the report, a female Defense Department staff member who saw Lewis and the woman alone in the room, told him, “Sir, respectfully, you’re being really stupid. Don’t do this. She needs to come and stay in my room.”
The report will go to Army leaders who will determine what, if any, punishment is required and at what rank Lewis would be able to retire.
Lewis took responsibility for several inappropriate actions, including charging nearly $1,800 on his government credit card at what he called a “dance club” in Rome. In an embarrassing set of circumstances, Lewis said, he tried to use his personal debit card at the club, but it didn’t work, so he had to walk back to his hotel with a female employee of the club, and wake up a Defense Department staff member to get his government card to pay the bill. He said he paid back the charges when he returned to the U.S.
The report identified the club as Cica Cica Boom, a club whose sign advertises lap dances, but Lewis said that’s not the club he went to. He said he went to “Verafollia Srl” a “high-end establishment with a respectable clientele that had a DJ, a bar area and a dance floor where couples were dancing.”
Investigators, including local law enforcement, visited the club and provided photos showing stripper poles and a “lap dance chair.” The report said the club manager said the name “Verafollia Srl” is used on credit card receipts “to conceal any link to the Cica Cica Boom club for patrons who frequent the establishment.”
Lewis, in the report, explained the high prices charged to his credit card by saying he ordered “two or three bottles of champagne, lots of drinks.”
Lewis had shot up the promotional ladder wiht Obama, and his job with Carter stemmed from their close professional relationship. He had served as an aide to Carter when Carter was deputy defense secretary.
In Korea, the report said, Lewis went to a gentleman’s club called the Candy Bar. Lewis denied going there as well, but acknowledged being in a commercial area of Seoul. He said that when he returned to Washington and saw two charges on his credit card totally about $1,100, he called the bank to have them removed, and the bank agreed.
Investigators presented him with two receipts from the club bearing the name “Candy.” Both receipts show only a short pen mark in the signature area, and do not show his written name.
The report says investigators, after getting Lewis’ rebuttal, went back to check their information, and said they stand by their findings. It adds that a representative from the Candy Bar club told an investigator that she recognized Lewis, but could not recall any details.
The report portrays Lewis as a senior officer who often went out alone on overseas trips, and who sometimes drank to excess. It said his behavior concerned some staff members and at times was a topic of conversation.
In the incident involving the enlisted service member, Lewis said another staff member was in the hotel room for much of the time, and that even when he was alone with the enlisted service member “our discussions remained the type of conversation a command team would engage in.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Do we really think the President looks at each and every expense voucher that the United states uses. Government and corp america get dinged for personal use of business credit cards all of the time. The Military and each of the agencies are in charge of their own expenses. Given your company has far few than the hundres of thousands of emplyees as the government does and I’ll guarentee that you CEO doesn’t look at credit card bills.
Come on folks lets get all over thngs Obama actually does without making up crap like this. How stupid does this writer think we are???
Are there any oversight to this type of spending ? IRS, VETS,EPA parts ?
Jim
Those mentioned are massively corrupt and run like the Mafia…….. All should be DEFUNDED N**O**W
THE HOMO WAS TROLING FOR TUBE STEAK!!!!!
The writer must think the readers are pretty stupid, Rog, and they proved him correct in their subsequent rants.
IMPEACH THIS SOB.
YES, please do impeach him, for so many, many reasons! He has destroyed our USA WITH THE HELP OF A LOT OF PROGRESSIVES like GEORGE SOROS AND OTHERS! IF HILLARY WINS, HE WILL BE HER PICK FOR THE SUPREME COURT….DON’T YOU THINK THAT’S WHY HE’S STICKING AROUND WASHINGTON, D,C. (sorry for the caps)
Obozo is can’t watch over every person and expenditure, but he should do something when impropriety is found. So, what is he doing now? Nothing but ignoring and cover up, as usual. Why defend politicians – they are mostly liars and corrupt – bad people from both parties!
I am sure there are more important things for a president to do than check these things out! However there those that are suppose to! Now to see what the President does now that he knows about
IRS had problems of excess and immoral spending all under Democratic rule and Obama administration. Certainly this will improve under the Clintons !!! Jim
IMPROVE UNDER HILIARY? LOL GIVE ME A BREAK, IT WILL ONLY GET WORST, TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT.
Trump/Pence 2016!!!
What are you smoking?
All part of the largest criminal enterprise on the planet; THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!
When ,will it end when Trump get elected if not then it will continue and get worst too
C’mon! Does this really surprise anyone.. The prick is going around the country on tax dollars and campaigning for HRC… he takes millions of dollars to go on vacation.. His slut wife cost taxpayers again millions with her trip to UK putting up all their friends and family. They sent their daughter on her 16 b-day to Mexico on AF1 with her friends costing us over $9 Million from what I heard in security etc. He goes on golf excursions and we pay millions. He’s a prick just like HRC .. don’t do as I do.. do as I say.. that’s his motto. And for all you assholes that will vote for HRC this election after all the corruption coming out on her, YOU HAVE TO BE FRIGGING BRAIN DEAD MORONS!!!
YOU ARE SO RIGHT, ANYONE THAT VOTES FOR THE HILDABEAST, IS INSANE AND SHOULD BE IN A STRAIGHT JACKET AND THROWN IN A VAN , LIKE SHE WAS 9-11
Thanks Len, well said!
Len: BINGO ON YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE FRAUD IN THE WH. HE’S AN INCOMPETENT FOOL AND HAS DONE NOTHING OF WORTH FOR ALMOST 8 DREARY YEARS. CAN’T WAIT UNTIL TRUMP TAKES OVER AND CLEANS HOUSE.
Bruce from a philosophical point of view how can the Federal Governemnt be a criminal when they are in charge of writing the law. Might remind you that YOU elect the people who write the laws. If you don’t like them vote for a different person.
Article:
Actually the inspector General Audits all agences. His supervisor should review expenses and does accounting.They might find these during such times. But realistically someone cheating the government for say $100 in this instance out of a $2trillion dollar budget … is it really worth the effort to get caried away? Besides guess what, he actually got caught, that is why we are reading about it. So the system must be working
Hey Rog,(nice name by the way) go lay by your liberal dish!
Spending money for themselves and not caring about the American people
This administration for the last 8 years has had more scandals than all others put together. obama the muslime liar in chief and hiTLIARy, lynch, comey, have all done things to disgrace this country and its people all for an agenda that destroys us all.
Really, this is the most egregious thing you found to report. Not bankers who should go to jail for destroying our economy, not the FDA that allows ineffective drugs with life threatening side effects to be marketed, Not the real truth about our economy (False stats ). not the mainstream media’s unwillingness to report any stories of substance. Monsanto poisoning the planet. you found it your duty to report on some military slub spending a couple of grand for entertainment, but the billions lost by the defense dept. that’s OK. BULLSHIT.
Lou, go back to your liberal rag where dumb asses like yourself can be spoon fed your bull!
To Len:Right on Some People just don’t beleive anything!!!!
TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT 2016, PEOPLE LETS GET ALL THE CORRUPT LIARS OUT OF OUR HOUSE THE WHITE HOUSE.
TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT 2016, PEOPLE LETS GET ALL THE CORRUPT LIARS OUT OF OUR HOUSE THE WHITE HOUSE.
I hope he pays everything back. This includes all investigation expenses. There should be fines and or jail time for deceiving authorities. Hillary started this ball rolling in the media. These higher ups don’t get in any trouble while a lowly sailor gets court marshaled and starts his jail time for taking some pics. All men are created equal. Yeah right!
Lewis exemplify the corruption in the government, not just in the military, but getting inspiration from Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Nuclear Ash Carter and now Hillary Clinton, what else should be expected from him? My vote for Trump is not a Republican vote but a vote against corruption.
You are thinking correctly on your voting!
We need to vote for the person and who will help our country, in the long run, verses party lines that run criminally to get votes!
You forgot one more George the nazi soros is the puppeteer of all. He controls the White House.
this will only get much worse if the lying thieving clintons get in.the american people need a miracle they need mr trump.
Do you expect this criminal prez to fight the corruption in his administration. Look at his million dollar vacations not only for him and his family but mother and law as well. Or how about spending more time a super high end golf courses on our dime instead of fixing the countries problems. The Dem party has turned into screw the people and grab and steal as much as we can.
Maj. Gen. Ron Lewis is a REPREHENSIBLE SCUMBAG. HE WANTS TO LUST AFTER SEX THEN HE SHOULD DO IT ON HIS OWN DIME. THE IRONY HERE IS WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES GETTING SCREWED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHY THE HELL DO WE PAY TAXES WHEN THE POWERS THAT BE ARE USING THE MONEY FOR THEIR PERSONAL SLUSH FUND.
WAKE UP AMERICA AND GOD HELP US WHO WANT THE COUNTRY BACK.
William, Len, Sandy ..et al ……
Your mindset perfectly illustrates Hillary’s idea of “deplorables” …… why do you continue to say such things? Why do you continue to give her such ammunition? Donald Trump is appealing to the most basic, lowest instincts of humans, which most of us would like to get beyond, but you people refuse to rise above. He is the most narcissistic, arrogant individual God ever created….. you really think he gives a care about the common person…. you think he can really relate to the bigoted redneck worker , i.e. the deplorables? All he ever talks about is himself and how wonderful he is. He is a joke to the rest of the world and will not be able to do the things he says he will. You people are falling for it out of frustration and anger at Washington, and quite understandably so, but he is not the answer. No one is condoning such behaviour as described in the article, but you can hardly blame President Obama for it. From where I sit ( not an American, so can see it from a different point of view, and don’t respect Hillary either, so happy I don’t have to choose!!) but President Obama comes across as a very refined, intelligent well-spoken fellow – yes, perhaps too liberal for some but quite a decent man I think. Your bigotry and racism is appalling to the rest of the world, can you not see that?
Clare, you are truly blinded by the light, you such a dim wit thinking Obama intelligent, tell me one or few things that he had done for American people come on tell me.
The VA is hiring over 120 Art Designers to make VA Clinics & VA Hospitals look cheerful…….budget is a mere $14 MILLION tax dollars….someone explain please how this helps our Wounded Warriors needing Health Care?????
Claire, go lay by your liberal dish! No one cares what loonie liberals think!
Claire, where have you been? Head in the sand or under a rock. Can’t you see the forest for the trees? Hillary/Obama crowd are really the “deplorables”, they only want to bring our country to destruction. How can anybody not see that?
Do your homework and don’t drink the coolaid.
Obama and the democrats spew all this crap about Donald Trump our Next President, all the while they really do these things behind the scenes and the Media is right in on it to cover it up. Obama is a Criminal an Illegal Alien Criminal the racist Democrats slammed into office to Ruin our country. They are responsible for 10 TRILLION DOLLARS THIS LYING CRIMINAL, just blew, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT!!! I want Trump in there and I want Criminal charges against these Criminal Pirates. Hillary is the worst old bag I have ever seen, Who would vote for her??? Except , Low life Criminals, Just plain Stupid or Low information voters. The Bernie people If they vote for Hillary That means everything they have campaigned for with Bernie, Means nothing. And that does not make sense. Hillary is for everything you were against
President Obama is for himself and his cronies. During his tenure our respect for most of his government has deteriorated to being unable to believe anything that he or anyone in his administration says. The national debt has doubled with his spending and the waste he allows is sickening. We hope our country will be able to recover under Donald Trump and then a succession of conservative presidents…..it will take years to repair the damage!
Clare, You must be a Muslim, you sound like someone that lives in London and voted for the Muslim mayor, it is none of your business what we want and what we do here in the USA.
Again, the little head talked louder than the big one did and ruined a mans Career.
The Executive Office sets the “TONE” if that office is flagrantly corrupt what can you expect in the trickle down please. These employees will take advantage. Give someone an inch they will take a mile. Someone caught it or we wouldn’t know it.
He’s small fry.
It’s like Thoreau said: “For every one who is striking at the root of evil, there are a thousand hacking at the branches.”
This drunken idiot is being made an example of so that LEO’s can say, “Look, we’re doing something!” These lily-livered bastards are too cowardly to go after any of the REAL criminals – you know, the tens of thousands of felons exposed via Wikileaks, et al? Or, of course, the Klinton Klan and their Klepto Kollidge, Deceptive D’OweBama, or any of his criminal appointees.
It’s just another “distract the masses ploy.” Infotainment at it’s best. Hacking at the branches.
Well, guess what, Mr. Obama, does the same thing,,,,,he has in the past (8),,,,,,spent more of our tax money on his trips and his outings then ANY OTHER President in History. Trips to any place, this wife takes a USAF plane at this time and within a (2) hr. span Air Force One is having air space cleared so B.H. can takeoff……the obvious question is………WHY?????.
It’s not tax money, as they create money out of thin air.
The President, his administration and many of the congressmen and women aren’t innocent, but when someone else does or says something, they are pretty quick to point the finger……this doesn’t at all surprise me….been going on for generations.