HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The U.S. Army War College will have the final say over whether any punishment is warranted in a plagiarism investigation against Sen. John Walsh of Montana.

Spokeswoman Carol Kerr said Wednesday that the Department of Defense and U.S. Army inspectors general will be notified before the release of the findings, but the authority to take disciplinary action remains with the college.

Provost Lance Betros previously said the Defense Department had asserted jurisdiction over the investigation because it involved a member of Congress, and the department would decide any sanctions.

The college asked for and received clarification about that jurisdiction after an Associated Press story reporting Betros’ comments.

A New York Times story showed Walsh used others’ work without attribution in a 2007 research paper.

The school’s investigation begins Aug. 15.

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