FORT BRAGG, N.C., March 26 (UPI) -- A lawyer defending U.S. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair against sex charges sought to suppress evidence an investigator found in Sinclair's personal email.
Richard Scheff, Sinclair's recently hired civilian lawyer, argued before military judge Col. James Pohl the former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne Division was entitled to his privacy when writing emails and a search warrant obtained by investigators was invalid because it was issued in Virginia, but the correspondence did not originate in that state.
The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer said Tuesday Pohl withheld ruling on the matter and prosecutors defended their investigation, saying all the search warrant applications were legitimate and straight-forward.
Sinclair is facing 25 specifications of eight charges, including forcible sodomy, wrongful sexual conduct, indecent acts, attempting to violate a lawful order, maltreatment, conduct unbecoming an officer, adultery and communicating threats.
Prosecutors allege he mistreated women who worked in his office and forced one women to give him oral sex.
Sinclair has admitted to an extra-marital affair with the woman -- a crime under military law -- but said the relationship was consensual.
Pohl also denied a defense motion to split the trial in two -- one for the allegations relating to the affair and one for the rest of the charges.
Sinclair's court-martial is scheduled to begin June 25.
