Chapter 8 - The Trap
The trap was set by Grant.
She set it in a way that Brennan would not see until it was already too late.
On the fourth day of the CID investigation, Grant filed a formal request with the Army Board for Correction of Military Records asking the board to reopen Tessa Ford's case. She attached the transfer authorization, the original manifest, the sworn statements from Alvarez and Evelyn Marsh, her own statement, and a cover letter that said, in careful language, that "the installation commander at Joint Base San Antonio has reason to believe that the official after-action report of the October 12, 2019 incident at Forward Operating Base Saber contains material misstatements of fact."
The board reopened the case the same day.
It did so because it had no choice. When an installation commander files a reopening request on a case that has been denied three times, the board's own regulations require it to act.
Brennan did not know the board had reopened the case. He found out on the eleventh day, when the board's staff attorney called him to schedule an interview.
He called his lawyer. His lawyer called the Army Medical Command staff judge advocate. The staff judge advocate called the CID special agent in charge. The special agent in charge called Michelle Okafor. Michelle Okafor called Grant.
"Colonel," Okafor said, "Colonel Brennan has retained counsel. His counsel has filed a motion to have the CID investigation suspended pending a review of the board's reopening decision. His counsel has also filed a complaint against you personally, alleging that you have engaged in an abuse of authority by reopening a case that has been adjudicated three times."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him that the CID investigation would continue. I told him that the board's reopening decision is within the board's authority. And I told him that the complaint against you will be forwarded to the inspector general at Army Medical Command and that it will be investigated in due course." Okafor paused. "Colonel, I need to tell you something. In nineteen years as a CID agent, I have never seen a case move this fast. Usually, a case like this sits on somebody's desk for a year. Somebody with stars on their shoulder decides that it is more politically convenient to let it die than to prosecute it. This case is not going to die. This case is going to move. But it is going to move because you have made it move. And I need you to understand that once it moves, you will not be able to stop it."
"I don't want to stop it."
"I know you don't. That's why I'm telling you."
The second front opened the following week.
Patricia Yee — the congressional staffer — had opened an inquiry with the Senate Armed Services Committee into the Army's handling of Major Tessa Ford's appeals. The inquiry was assigned to a staff attorney named David Chen, who had spent six years working for the committee and who had a reputation for being thorough and not easily intimidated.
Chen sent a letter to the Secretary of the Army requesting all documents related to the October 12, 2019 incident at FOB Saber, all documents related to Colonel Brennan's Bronze Star award, all documents related to Major Ford's three appeals to the Board for Correction of Military Records, and all documents related to the CID investigation.
The Secretary of the Army's office forwarded the letter to the Army General Counsel. The Army General Counsel forwarded it to the Army Inspector General. The Army Inspector General forwarded it to the Army Medical Command. The Army Medical Command forwarded it to the CID.
Michelle Okafor received the letter and called Grant.
"Colonel," she said. "The Senate is involved."
"I know."
"Colonel Brennan is going to be notified tomorrow. He is going to have twenty-four hours to respond before the Army has to produce documents to the committee."
"I know."
"Colonel, I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Are you okay?"
May you like
Simone Grant was quiet for a moment.
"No," she said. "But I'm going to be."
