Latest news with #ArmyPublicHealthCenter
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump pardons Army officer who defied COVID prevention rules
As part of a flurry of presidential clemency this week, President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned a former Army officer convicted of disobeying COVID-19 safety measures in 2022. Former 1st Lt. Mark Bashaw announced the pardon on social media, thanking Trump and all his supporters who 'took a stand against tyranny.' He also posted a picture referencing conspiracy theories that the COVID-19 virus was a planned event by global elitists for unspecified, nefarious reasons. Bashaw was convicted but given no prison sentence after refusing to obey orders designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He had previously worked as an entomologist at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and commanded the headquarters company for the Army Public Health Center. Army officer convicted in first known COVID court-martial Military investigators said Bashaw refused to telework and traveled to his office without submitting evidence of a prior COVID-19 test. Both were required of soldiers at the facility in 2022 who were not vaccinated against the virus. Bashaw was also found guilty of refusing to wear a mask in indoor areas, in violation of military protocols at the time. He was the first service member court-martialed for refusing to adhere to COVID mitigation protocols. He was discharged from the Army in 2023. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in recent months have worked to overturn a host of past punishments and dismissals for pandemic violations in the military, including offering reinstatement and back pay to some troops forced out for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Although Bashaw did not have any prison time related to his conviction, Trump's pardon erases his criminal record completely. White House officials did not release a statement on the reasoning behind the pardon. More than 500,000 U.S. troops contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic from March 2020 to May 2023, but fewer than 100 died of complications related to the virus.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump pardons former Army officer convicted of disobeying COVID rules
Bashaw was found guilty by a military judge for violating lawful orders for refusing to work remotely, reporting to office without submitting a COVID-19 test, and not wearing a face mask indoors - measures that were required of military members who chose not to get vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus. "I got Courts-Martialed because I refused to participate with lies," Bashaw said in a 2023 post on X. Bashaw was the first member of the military to be tried by a court martial over Biden-era COVID-19 rules for the military, which were later rescinded in 2023 when the pandemic subsided. The judge who oversaw Bashaw's trial declined to punish him but the conviction but gave Bashaw a criminal record that is wiped out with Trump's pardon. Bashaw served as company commander of the Army Public Health Center's headquarters company at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. A father of three, Bashaw was previously a non-commissioned officer with the Air Force. Weeks after his inauguration, Trump took executive action in January to begin reinstating service members who refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as mandated by the Defense Department under former President Joe Biden. It was not immediately clear whether Bashaw is among those who will be reinstated. Contributing: Davis Winkie of USA TODAY. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump pardons former Army officer convicted in court martial of disobeying COVID rules
Trump pardons former Army officer convicted in court martial of disobeying COVID rules President Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to a former U.S. army officer convicted of refusing to follow COVID-19 safety rules. Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump 'disappointed' with Vladimir Putin President Donald Trump told reporters he was 'disappointed' with Russian President Vladimir Putin, referencing latest attacks on Ukraine. Former Lt. Mark Bashaw, who was discharged from the Army after his 2022 conviction, received the pardon from Trump on May 28. Bashaw was found guilty by a military judge for violating lawful orders for refusing to work remotely, reporting to office without submitting a COVID-19 test, and not wearing a face mask indoors. WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump has issued a full and unconditional pardon to a former U.S. army officer who was found guilty by a special court martial during the Biden administration for refusing to follow COVID-19 safety measures. Former Lt. Mark Bashaw, who was discharged from the Army after his 2022 conviction, received the pardon from Trump on May 28, a senior White House official confirmed to USA TODAY. Bashaw was found guilty by a military judge for violating lawful orders for refusing to work remotely, reporting to office without submitting a COVID-19 test, and not wearing a face mask indoors ‒ measures that were required of military members who chose not to get vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus. "I got Courts-Martialed because I refused to participate with lies," Bashaw said in a 2023 post on X. Bashaw was the first member of the military to be tried by a court martial over Biden-era COVID-19 rules for the military, which were later rescinded in 2023 when the pandemic subsided. The judge who oversaw Bashaw's trial declined to punish him but the conviction but gave Bashaw a criminal record that is wiped out with Trump's pardon. Bashaw served as company commander of the Army Public Health Center's headquarters company at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. A father of three, Bashaw was previously a non-commissioned officer with the Air Force. Weeks after his inauguration, Trump took executive action in January to begin reinstating service members who refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as mandated by the Defense Department under former President Joe Biden. It was not immediately clear whether Bashaw is among those who will be reinstated. Contributing: Davis Winkie of USA TODAY. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
