Retired Navy Admiral Robert Burke was arrested Friday on suspicion of bribery involving government contracts, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Also arrested were Yong-chul “Charlie” Kim and Megan Messenger, co-CEOs of a company the Justice Department did not name, for allegedly engaging in a scheme to secure government contracts in exchange for offering Burke a position at the company, according to a Department of Justice press release.
“The law makes no exceptions for admirals or CEOs, and those who pay or accept bribes must be held accountable,” said Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “The urgency is greatest when, as in this case, senior government officials and executives are alleged to have engaged in corrupt conduct.”
Burke, who served as vice chief of naval operations, was once the second-highest ranking officer in the Navy.
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Robert Burke, who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations, was once the second-highest ranking officer in the Navy. (U.S. Navy)
The company provided training programs to some Navy personnel from 2018 to 2019 before its contract ended.
Though the company had been instructed by the Navy not to contact Burke, the three met in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, and Burke allegedly agreed to use his influence to award the company sole contract and encourage other Navy officers to use the company to conduct a more extensive training program, which Kim estimates to be worth “millions of dollars.”
In December 2021, Burke allegedly directed subordinates to award the company a $355,000 contract to train naval personnel under his command in Italy and Spain, and tried unsuccessfully to convince senior Navy commanders to award it another contract.
U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Robert Burke testifies at a 2017 House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, DC. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Burke reportedly suggested he had no involvement in the deal’s creation and that discussions with Kim and Messenger began after the deal had begun.
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He was subsequently hired by the company in October 2022 after retiring from the Navy at a salary of $500,000 and $100,000 in stock options.
According to the Department of Justice, Burke was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, engaging in acts to influence personal economic advantage, and concealing material facts from the United States.
If convicted, he could face 30 years in prison.
Kim and Messenger were charged with bribery and bribery conspiracy and could face up to 20 years in prison.
Burke made his initial court appearance in Miami on Friday, and his lawyer said he plans to clear his name at trial.
At left, Burke talks with Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in 2021. (Arif Akdogan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“I think a jury will see through this,” defense attorney Timothy Parlatore said, “There’s nothing to do with this contract and his employment. It just doesn’t make sense mathematically that he would take a relatively small contract for this type of job offer.”
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Rear Adm. Ryan Perry said in a statement that the Navy is cooperating fully with the investigation.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Navy for further comment.
“We take this matter very seriously and will continue to work with the Department of Justice,” he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
