Soldier discharged under Biden after refusing COVID vax finally gets justice, thanks to Trump



Mark Bashaw, a former lieutenant in the U.S. Army, finally has a measure of justice after he was criminally convicted and discharged for refusing to abide by COVID-related protocols implemented under President Joe Biden.

In August 2021, then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin imposed a COVID vaccine mandate for members of the military, claiming the shots were critical for maintaining healthy, ready armed forces. Those like Bashaw who refused were required either to work from home or to subject themselves to COVID testing before going into the office, where they would have to wear a mask.

Bashaw — the company commander of the Army Public Health Center in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland — refused to abide by those directives. As a result, he was convicted by a court martial in 2022 of failing to obey lawful orders.

In a 2023 social media post, he claimed he had been court-martialed because he "refused to participate with lies." Following his conviction, he was involuntarily discharged.

Some 8,000 service members were similarly discharged from the military for refusing the shot. However, Bashaw is believed to have been the first to be court-martialed for failing to adhere to the COVID protocols issued by Austin, The Hill reported.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued Bashaw a full and unconditional pardon.

Bashaw's conviction did not result in any jail sentence, but it did give him a criminal record. Trump's pardon wipes his record clean.

Bashaw celebrated the news of his pardon on social media: "I just received a Presidential Pardon from President Donald J. Trump. I am humbled, grateful, and ready to continue fighting for truth and justice in this great nation. Thank you, Mr. President @realDonaldTrump and to your incredible team."

After thanking others, including former U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin, Bashaw's post added: "Time for accountability!" It also included an image that described COVID as a "plandemic."

RELATED: Ed Martin floats names of 'gatekeepers' in Biden autopen controversy; Trump accuses exploiters of 'TREASON'

  Photo by Craig Hudson For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Blaze News senior editor Daniel Horowitz applauded Bashaw's courage despite his "unfathomable" suffering "under the Biden-controlled DOD."

"It’s easy to be a hero now that COVID tyranny has been universally repudiated and it no longer costs anything to take a stand. Yet, Bashaw risked his entire career and even time in the brig for standing up for the rule of law and the medical ethics of public health," Horowitz told Blaze News.

Horowitz also thanked Trump for making good use of his pardon powers: "Well played, Mr. President."

BlazeTV host Steve Deace, who has long railed against the COVID shots, was likewise pleased to hear that Trump intervened in Bashaw's case.

"This is another commendable act of penance by President Trump for the mistakes of his first administration during the scamdemic, which set the stage for the outright tyranny imposed by whoever was making decisions for Biden the last four years. His language at times certainly has its bravado, but President Trump is really showing great humility in unraveling the original COVID narrative his first term succumbed to," Deace said in a statement to Blaze News.

RELATED: Damning new episode of BlazeTV's 'The Coverup' blows lid off Biden's 10-year pardon for Fauci

  Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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Military drops hammer on Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, announces six charges over criticism of commanders



The United States military plans to drop the hammer on Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, the Marine officer who criticized top military commanders for the role they played in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

What are the details?

The Marine Corps revealed last week that Scheller has been formally charged with six violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and will be tried before a special court-martial.

The charges against Scheller include UCMJ violations of:

  • Article 88: Contempt toward officials
  • Article 89: Disrespect toward superior commissioned officers
  • Article 90: Willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer
  • Article 92: Dereliction in the performance of duties
  • Article 92: Failure to obey order or regulation
  • Article 133: Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman

Capt. Sam Stephenson, a spokesman for Training and Education Command, suggested the charges are directly related to Scheller's violation of the military chain of command by airing his grievances on social media.

"In the military there are proper forums to raise concerns with the chain of command," Capt. Stephenson told the Marine Corps Times. “In a general sense not specific to any case, posting to social media criticizing the chain of command is not the proper manner in which to raise concerns with the chain of command and may, depending upon the circumstances, constitute a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice."

Scheller was released from military jail last Tuesday. He was sent to the brig for pre-trial confinement after allegedly violating a gag order that ordered him to stop publicly discussing his case.

Why so tough?

Scheller is in hot water, not only for publicly criticizing his commanders, but for repeated embraces of the word "revolution," according to legal documents leaked to Task & Purpose.

However, Tim Parlatore, one of Scheller's attorneys, told Task & Purpose that Scheller has never advocated for actual violence.

"At no time has Lt. Col. Scheller ever advocated any violent overthrow of the government or any other insurrection," Parlatore said. "He does believe that there does need to be a change in the leadership, both the military and the political class, which is what he was referring to in all of these things."

The military is also reportedly upset over Scheller's promise to file charges against Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the head of U.S. Central Command, over the terrorist attack outside the Kabul airport in August that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and 169 Afghan civilians.

Scheller's next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to Task & Purpose.

Marine officer who posted viral video now says he could face court-martial: 'Probably do some jail time'



Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who went viral last month after criticizing top military commanders over the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, said this week he could be facing a court-martial and jail time.

The claim came days after Scheller, who was "relieved for cause" one day after publishing the critical video, posted a letter to his Facebook page showing that he is resigning his military commission, effective on Sept. 11. Scheller's letter cited a "loss of trust and confidence," a reason that mirrored what the military told him after reprimanding him.

What are the details?

According to the Washington Examiner, Scheller posted an update on Wednesday revealing the military is investigating his situation, and he could face future repercussions.

"The Marine Corps will assign an investigating officer. Most likely a Colonel," Scheller said. "Once the investigating officer finalizes his recommendation, the Marine Corps will decide if they should pursue court-martial."

Scheller claimed that, if his case does go to trial, he would probably be found "guilty." Scheller did not state what military crime he is possibily being accused of breaking.

"I will be found guilty and will probably do some jail time," the Marine added. "This will provide me a valuable opportunity to read, write, and contemplate."

What did the military say?

Capt. Sam Stephenson, a spokesman for the Training and Education Command, confirmed Scheller "is currently under investigation." He did not, however, provide additional details about the investigation.

"The Marine Corps is not providing any additional information regarding Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller. His situation is currently under investigation and being handled appropriately by his chain of command, and therefore, we cannot comment further," Stephenson said, the Examiner reported.

"As Marines decompress from the gravity of events in Afghanistan over the week, it is important for those struggling to speak with their fellow Marines, their chain of command, or seek counseling," he added.

Anything else?

Scheller also revealed this week that he was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation, which he seemingly passed.

"I was ordered by my commanding officer to go to the Hospital for a mental health screening. I was evaluated by the mental health specialists and then sent on my way," Scheller said on Monday. "I am moving forward with my resignation. I, like many of you, am very scared. But courage isn't the absence of fear, it's the ability to overcome it. At the end of the day, if I stand with accountability and integrity, the system can't beat me."