By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 11, 2004; Page A13

A lawyer representing Steven A. Stefanowicz, an interrogator with CACI International Inc. implicated in an Army report on abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, yesterday denied that his client did anything wrong.

"Any meaningful review of the facts will inevitably lead to the conclusion that Mr. Stefanowicz's conduct was both appropriate and authorized," said Henry E. Hockeimer Jr., a partner at Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin in Philadelphia.

Hockeimer declined to elaborate on the status of investigations into Stefanowicz's behavior. An internal Army report said Stefanowicz instructed military personnel to aid interrogators by "setting conditions" and that he "clearly knew his instructions equated to physical abuse." He is also accused of making false statements to investigators and was named in the report as one of four men who were found to be "either directly or indirectly" responsible for abuses at the prison.

Stefanowicz, 34, enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in February 1998, according to records from the Navy. He served in Muscat, Oman, for most of 2002, and his rank is listed as intelligence specialist 3rd class. Stefanowicz, who received a number of military awards, including a medal for meritorious service, left his last post, at Willow Grove, Pa., last September.

Arlington-based CACI has declined to confirm Stefanowicz's identity or discuss his employment. CACI has a one-year contract, expiring this August, to provide interrogators at Abu Ghraib, J.P. "Jack" London, CACI's chairman and chief executive, said in an interview yesterday.

London reiterated that none of the company's employees have been removed from their duties and that CACI has not been informed by the government of any charges against its employees. CACI has 27 interrogators stationed throughout Iraq, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command said.