Ex-Navy Officer on Trial – Again – in 9/11 Fraud Case

A retired naval officer honored for his valor during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon is being tried for a third time on allegations that 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 a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday that Coughlin sought to take advantage of the country's generosity by filing a false claim.

Coughlin's attorney denied the allegations and described him as a hero who helped rescue other victims in the attack.

Coughlin was first tried in 2009 but the jury couldn't agree on a verdict. A second trial a few months later was cut short by a Supreme Court decision altering his case.