WASHINGTON — The No. 2 officer at the military command in charge of all U.S. nuclear war-fighting forces is suspected in a case involving counterfeit gambling chips at an Iowa casino and has been suspended from his duties, officials said.
Navy Vice Adm. Tim Giardina has not been arrested or charged, said Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent David Dales on Saturday. The investigation is ongoing.
Giardina, deputy commander at U.S. Strategic Command, was suspended Sept. 3 and is under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, said a Strategic Command spokeswoman.
The unusual action against a high-ranking officer at Strategic Command was made more than three weeks ago but not announced at that time. Giardina is still assigned to the command but is prohibited from performing duties related to nuclear weapons.
