After reviewing the Article 32 report of investigation as well as recommendations from the investigating officer and the chain of command at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Army Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe Jr., court-martial convening authority and commanding general of the National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, dismissed all charges and specifications today, Jan. 30, in the case of U.S. vs. 1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside.
Rowe signed a memorandum officially dismissing all charges and specifications against Whiteside, Military District of Washington officials announced. As the court-martial convening authority, under the provisions of Rule for Courts-Martial 407, Rowe had the option of either referring the case to a court-martial or dismissing all or some of the charges and specifications against the accused.
Whiteside's defense counsel was informed of Rowe's decision to dismiss the charges earlier today. She will remain on active-duty, assigned to the Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Whiteside was charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, assault upon a superior commissioned officer, reckless endangerment, willful discharge of a firearm, communicating a threat, and self-injury in a hostile-fire zone. All charges arose out of an incident at or near Camp Cropper, Iraq, on or about Jan. 1, 2007.
The dismissal of all charges and specifications against Whiteside represents the final action by Rowe in this case.
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