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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Army denies trying to cover up death

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The Army on Thursday issued a fresh denial that it attempted to cover up the friendly fire death of former pro football player Pat Tillman in Afghanistan.

The Army said procedural mistakes were to blame for its slow acknowledgment of the circumstances of Tillman’s death.

Tillman’s parents have criticized the Army for waiting weeks to tell them his death was accidental and did not result from enemy fire. They have accused the government of lying to cover up.

A statement from the Army’s public affairs office said Tillman’s Ranger unit did not quickly tell the Pentagon of the nature of his death because the unit’s leaders were waiting until their investigation was finished.

“While procedural misjudgments and mistakes contributed to an air of suspicion, no one intended to deceive the Tillman family or the public as to the cause of his death,” the Army statement said. The Ranger unit’s withholding information “was an application of judgment, not a willful violation of regulation. Nevertheless, it was procedurally wrong.”