Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, former commander of the San Antonio-based 19th Air Force, the service's pilot training arm, has lost his bid to retire rather than face a court-martial on charges of raping a female subordinate. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III rejected Stewart's request, two members of the general's defense team said Thursday. The Air Force did not comment.
primer on the rape charges against Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart Stewart was sacked as head of the 19th Air Force a month after the alleged assault. He has pleaded not guilty and maintains that he and the woman had a consensual affair. Military prosecutors say she had no choice but to submit to Stewart's advances given his rank and power. A member of Stewart's defense team said Kendall's decision was 'a one- or two-sentence rejection' that offered 'no broad explanation.