The Aberdeen Scandal was a military sexual assault scandal in 1996 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, a United States Army base in Maryland.
Ultimately, twelve drill instructors were charged with sex crimes; four were sentenced to prison, while eight others were discharged or received non-judicial punishment. Additionally, "letters of reprimand were issued to Aberdeen's commanding general and three other senior officers."
Army Secretary Togo West accused those charged of abusing their power, and ordered all soldiers to undergo sexual harassment training so they could learn the Army's "zero tolerance" policy towards sexual harassment. The men accused felt that statements made by West and other officials within the Army were prejudging the case and would result in an unfair trial. Robertson's attorney, Jerome Murphy, asked the military judge Linda Webster, to enact a gag order on West and others, but she deferred judgment. However, she did order prospective jurors not to follow media coverage of the case to avoid interference with their judgment. At his court-martial, Robinson "made a dramatic plea for clemency, weeping and beating his head contritely against the witness stand." was the highest-ranking of the defendants, serving as a company commander. He was charged with rape, forcible sodomy, adultery, indecent assault, conduct unbecoming an officer, violating a general order, and obstruction of justice. Robertson was sentenced to one year in prison, with eight months suspended. At court-martial, Gunter was acquitted of four of the remaining seven counts (of "indecent assault, adultery, cruelty and maltreatment, and engaging in a forbidden social relationship with one of the two women") but was convicted of inappropriate behavior (by trying to hug and kiss another woman) and of obstructing an investigation (by asking both women not to speak with investigators). Gunter was sentenced to a reprimand and to demotion by two grades.
- Sergeant 1st Class William Jones, The Army ultimately dropped the charges, choosing to pursue discharge proceedings instead.
- Sergeant 1st Class Theron Brown, an instructor, was "charged with violation of a general order, sodomy, adultery, making a false statement and disobeying a superior's order" in connection with incidents involving two female trainees and one female civilian. Charges were dropped against Beach, who faced administrative discipline rather than court-martial. Chestnut was ultimately permitted to resign in lieu of facing court-martial. was charged with "adultery, sodomy, wrongfully socializing with trainees and failing to report prohibited relationships" in a case involving four female trainees. The events occurred more than five years before Longhouser's retirement, and before his arrival at Aberdeen. According to Army officials, 22 female soldiers "were involved in incidents" in which three men—Staff Sgt. Loren B. Taylor, Staff Sgt. Anthony S. Fore, and Sgt. George W. Blackley Jr.—were charged.
Fore pleaded guilty to failing to obey a general regulation, indecent assault, and assault and battery, and a military judge, after hearing testimony, convicting Fore "of two additional counts of failing to obey a general regulation and indecent assault."
Supervisors were also barred from having romantic relationships with the soldiers they trained. The Army cited the fact that they cannot be sure if all relationships are consensual due to the nature of a supervisor's power over their trainees.