Federal prosecutors have charged Admiral Robert Burke, a retired four-star Navy admiral who last commanded U.S. Navy forces in Europe and Africa, with participating in an alleged bribery scheme. The indictment, unsealed Friday in Washington, D.C., accuses Burke of conspiracy and bribery, among other charges.
According to the indictment, Burke is alleged to have struck a deal with Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, executives at a company that provides workplace “perks” and training programs. In exchange for securing a government contract for their company, Burke reportedly sought a job with the firm after his retirement.
Burke’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, firmly denies the allegations, emphasizing that Burke served his country with honor and plans to fight the charges in court. “We intend to take this case to trial and win an acquittal,” Parlatore told CBS News.
Investigators claim that Burke, Kim, and Messenger began discussions about the contract in 2021, even though the Navy had ended its relationship with the company years earlier. The indictment details how Burke and his team initially rejected the company’s proposals due to Navy policy but later engaged in negotiations.
In April 2021, the three reportedly communicated via WhatsApp, with Kim allegedly stating that Burke wanted a job but was seeking a deal first. Kim also mentioned that Messenger felt uncomfortable with the situation. Shortly after, Burke reportedly sought funding to secure a contract for the company and met with Kim, Messenger, and another individual to discuss the contract.
The indictment suggests that in exchange for the contract, Burke was offered a job with a salary of at least $500,000 per year and 100,000 stock options, to start after his retirement. Burke notified the Navy of his retirement plans in August 2021, with his official retirement date set for May 2022.
By December 2021, Burke is accused of directing the drafting of a contract for the company. The indictment alleges that a purchase request for over $350,000 was submitted for a training program in Italy and Spain, which was then offered to Navy personnel in January 2022. Burke’s employment with the company is said to have begun in October 2022.
Kim and Messenger, who are Co-CEOs of Next Jump, a New York-based company that offers workplace perks and training, have not yet commented on the charges. Their attorneys have not been publicly identified.
Prosecutors also allege that Burke tried to hide his interactions with the company from Navy officials and misled the Department of Defense about his plans.
Grant Fleming, deputy director at the Defense Department’s Office of the Inspector General, stated, “Today’s indictment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to rooting out fraud within the Department of Defense.”