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February 20, 2007

Former Army Official Investigated Over His Ties to a Charity

Michael J. Wagner, the former director of the Army’s Medical Family Assistance Center, which helps wounded soldiers deal with their financial problems and other concerns, has become the focus of a criminal investigation, reports The Washington Post.

Investigators say that while Mr. Wagner—who worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington—was being paid to provide services to patients, outpatients, and their families, he was also soliciting donations for a charity he now heads. Mr. Wagner resigned his position last month.

Col. Samuel Smith, legal adviser to Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, the commander at Walter Reed, said that “it would clearly be a conflict of interest” prohibited by federal law, Army regulations, and Defense Department ethics rules if Mr. Wagner used his position to solicit money for his own organization.

Mr. Wagner denied soliciting money for his charity—the Military, Veteran and Family Assistance Foundation, in Dallas—or making contact with donors during office hours.

“It’s just not true,” he said. “I intentionally stayed out of that. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t do both.”

He said he is not paid by the charity, which was started by his brother. The documents that would verify his assertion have not yet been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, the newspaper said.

Mr. Wagner said his superiors “knew of my involvement right from the beginning.” But General Weightman said the command had been unaware of Mr. Wagner’s charity until recently.

Tuesday February 20, 2007 | Permalink

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