This post has been updated to note that USNI News reached out to the Department of Justice for comment prior to publication of this story. Additionally, an attorney representing Leonard Francis provided comment following publication of an earlier version of this story. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The investigation into the web of corruption spun by contractor Leonard Francis has wreaked havoc on the Navy’s ability to fill senior leadership roles, unintentionally stalled hundreds of officers’ careers and thinned out the service’s flag ranks, USNI News has learned. The six-year-long Department of Justice-led probe into the “Fat Leonard” scandal has resulted in … Continue reading Paying the Price: The Hidden Cost of the ‘Fat Leonard’ Investigation