Admiral Accused of Adultery, Lying

WASHINGTON — A Navy admiral is facing accusations of adultery, lying to investigators and an ethics violation involving defense contracts, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.

Navy Secretary Richard Danzig said the case of Rear Adm. John T. Scudi merits special attention because of the “questions about impropriety with contractors.”

Scudi, 54, had directed the Navy office of outsourcing and privatization at the Pentagon, an office that handles millions of dollars in defense contracting each year. In August, he was transferred to Norfolk, Va., said Lt. Cmdr. Mark McDonald.

Scudi is to have a Dec. 14 hearing to determine whether he should be court-martialed on two counts of adultery and on allegations of giving false official statements, obstruction of justice and the ethics violation, McDonald said. The maximum penalty, if convicted on all charges, would be dismissal and up to 11 1/2 years in prison, the Navy said.

Scudi, who is married, is accused of having an affair with a defense contractor and a senior Navy civilian employee, a senior defense official said.