Robert Feneziani Pleads Not Guilty, Government Backs Off, Application Was Accurate

Just a few days ago ANN reported to you that a United Airlines pilot who also flies for the National Guard, Maj. Robert Feneziani, 44, of San Diego (CA), was arrested by the FBI after a female acquaintance allegedly told authorities that he had threatened to crash an aircraft into Wall Street.

Charges were later filed claiming that Feneziani had lied in his application for a DOD security clearance, allegedly because some of the assertions he made in the application were not true.

After Feneziani showed up in court with his attorney and pleaded not guilty, the government decided it was time to back off. As it turns out, it appears there was no real investigation undertaken prior to his arrest. Feneziani's attorney, Mark Mahoney, told the Associated PRess that the government prosecutors agreed to drop all charges once it was determined that he had not lied in his government application.

"What we wish is that they would have investigated before they arrested him," Mahoney said.

No charges were ever filed for his alleged statement about Wall Street, and Feneziani denied ever making a statement like that. "We cannot fathom the reason or motivation for including this career-stopping allegation in the (lying) charges to begin with," Mahoney said.

United Airlines had taken Feneziano off flying status following his arrest, but he may soon be flying once again. "As soon as we are notified officially that charges have been dropped we will take the appropriate action," said airline spokesperson Jeff Green.

FMI: www.united.com, www.fbi.gov