Kevin Newton

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Jason Newton was a United States Army judge advocate sent by the Defense Intelligence Agency to answer the House Special Subcommittee's questions regarding the military's involvement in Operation Nightfall and Victor Drazen's subsequent imprisonment.

Background Information

 * Age (at the time of the hearings): 31
 * Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia
 * Marital status: Divorced - Cheryl Ann Clemson-Newton
 * No children

Military Experience

 * Judge Advocate in the office of General Donovan C. Henderson, Defense Intelligence Agency, Director of the Special Unit for Counterintelligence Initiatives
 * 2001: Assistant Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army Capture Management Program, Albania
 * 1998-2000: Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Army, I-FOR, Kosovo
 * 1994-1997: Assistant Judge Advocate, Center for Law and Military Operations
 * 1993: First Lieutenant, 10th Mountain Division, Somalia

Education

 * Law and Special Operations Program, John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
 * Master of Arts, Law and the Military, Georgetown University
 * Bachelor of Arts, Military History, Carlisle Military College

House Subcommittee Hearings
Upon learning of the existence of the Mobile Underground Detention and Detainment where Victor Drazen was held following Operation Nightfall, Chairman Fulbright contacted the office of the Secretary of Defense and requested a representative to appear before the committee and testify. Lt. Col. Newton was sent the same afternoon. Although he claimed that his office wanted to cooperate fully, he often was defensive and secretive.

Pressured by the committee to reveal the names of some of the MUDD prisoners, he revealed several. He also explained the nature of Victor Drazen's threat to the U.S. and the source of Drazen's apparently vast resources. Newton categorically denied Jack Bauer's accusation that the military had set up Operation Nightfall to fail so that the Department of Defense could secretly take Drazen prisoner.

Memorable Quotes
Lt. Col. Newton: I'm sure I don't need to remind you, ma'am, that Osama bin Laden is a two-bit thug, too, and that his nontraditional use of power - his asymmetric threat activities - managed to damage our country and murder thousands of our citizens. Remember also that Victor Drazen nearly assassinated a United States presidential candidate on the day of the California primary. Frankly, the value in holding him captive seems quite clear to me.