Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, Photo: U.S. Army

Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, Photo: U.S. Army

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A two-star general who recently headed the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson was denied a promotion to three-star after referring to a congressional staffer as "sweetheart" during a meeting in 2016.

That's according to military news outlet Stars and Stripes , which reports that Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves was administratively reprimanded after an investigation into the incident. His specific punishment, aside from being denied the promotion to lieutenant general, wasn't released by the Army.

It stems from a meeting in October 2016 between Gonsalves and office staff with Rep. Jim Langevin (D-Rhode Island) at Fort Carson. According to a report, Gonsalves called a female staffer "sweetheart," and commented on her age.

Gonsalves also told the staffer to take notes "since she was a Democrat and did not believe in funding the military," according to a report from the Army Inspector General.

Other staffers called Gonsalves' comments sexist, though others stood up for him as a professional. A complaint wasn't immediately filed about the exchange. However, Stars and Stripes reports that an anonymous complaint to the Army IG was made after reports surfaced that Gonsalves was up for a promotion to three-star general.

Gonsalves had testified that he didn't call the staffer "sweetheart," but the IG report says evidence didn't support "his recollection."

The Army IG recommended the report go to a Judge Advocate General for future action.

Gonsalves is currently serving in an assistant administrative role at Fort Hood, Texas.

This is a developing story, KRDO will update this article throughout the day.