Moran declines CNO position amid questions about conduct

Adm. William Moran, who was set to become chief of naval operations next month, has reportedly declined the position and opted to retire amid questions about his conduct.

"I made this difficult decision based on an open investigation into the nature of some of my personal email correspondence over the past couple of years and for continuing to maintain a professional relationship with a former staff officer, now retired, who had while in uniform been investigated and held accountable over allegations of inappropriate behavior," Moran told NBC News, which first reported the story last night.

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer accepted Moran's request to retire, NBC News also reported.