Related News Judge orders U.S. Navy to cut sonar exercises off California coast Comment Tell A Friend Print Format Save Article The director of the U.S. Navy staff has been fired for providing "false and misleading information" during an investigation into claims that he had an "inappropriate relationship" while serving at the White House in 1990.



The navy's top spokesman Admiral Frank Thorp has confirmed that Vice Adm. John "Boomer" Stufflebeem was relieved by Chief of Naval Operations Gary Roughead, the Military Times reported Tuesday.



Chief of Naval Personnel John Harvey has succeeded Stufflebeem.



The investigation began after officials received an anonymous letter accusing Stufflebeem of having an inappropriate relationship while serving as former President George H. W. Bush's military aide in 1990.



The navy stressed that Stufflebeem was relieved due to the misleading testimony, not because of the allegations in the letter, while the findings of the investigation are still under review.



Stufflebeem's rank has reverted to rear admiral, which is typically done when an officer is not serving in a three-star billet.



Stufflebeem, a career naval aviator, rose to prominence in the opening days of the Afghanistan war in 2001, frequently briefing reporters as the deputy director for global operations on the Joint Staff.



Source:Xinhua