Retired Officer On Trial For 9/11 Fund Theft

(AP)

WASHINGTON - A retired high-ranking naval officer honored for his valor during the Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon is being tried for a third time on allegations he exaggerated his injuries to get money from the victims compensation fund.

Retired Cmdr. Charles Coughlin got $331,034 from the fund set up by Congress in the wake of the attacks. But prosecutor Susan Menzer told jurors Tuesday in opening arguments that Coughlin sought to take advantage of the country's generosity by filing a false claim. Coughlin's attorney John Bourgeois denied the allegations and described Coughlin as a hero who helped his fellow victims in the attacks.

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