Pentagon confirms Gitmo general moved

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The Pentagon has confirmed it reassigned a general after military judges at Guantanamo Bay alleged he improperly influenced prosecutors.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Hartmann had overseen the war-crimes proceedings until judges in three separate cases barred him from participating in aspects of military commissions at the detention center in Cuba, The Washington Post reported Saturday. Pentagon officials would discuss Hartmann's reassignment only on the condition of anonymity, the newspaper said.

Hartmann, in a transfer Friday, is to remain involved in operations and planning for military commissions, while his deputy, Michael Chapman, is elevated to become the new legal adviser overseeing the war-crimes trials, the Post reported.

Hartmann dismissed critics who said the Pentagon did not go far enough in removing his influence. "We are going to produce fair, open and just trials," Hartmann said.