An internal Pentagon investigation finds the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy made false statements to officials as part of a plan to kick out a midshipman over controversial political tweets.
The internal report, dated September 2022, was uncovered after the nonprofit public interest law firm Judicial Watch filed a March 2023 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit in the case of Midshipman 1st Class Chase Standage, then 21, of California.
“The documents show how Pentagon leaders let a vice admiral – and the head of the U.S. Naval Academy – off the hook for knowingly making false statements to justify his recommendation to end the career of a young midshipman over tweets,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “And it is disturbing that it took a federal FOIA lawsuit to uncover how this senior officer made a series of false statements as part of his unusual effort to destroy this midshipman.”
The midshipmen, whose name was initially reported but has since been redacted, was initially disenrolled from the Academy in 2020 after tweets opposing the “Defund The Police” movement, noting a “drone strike” could take out Antifa rioters and disparaging Breonna Taylor, the victim of a mistaken police shooting in Kentucky.
After meeting with Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Admiral Sean L. Buck, Buck issued a November 12, 2020 memo recommending the midshipman be kicked out of the Academy.
The midshipman, the son of police officers, was readmitted after suing the Academy alleging a violation of his constitutionally-protected right of free speech and right to a fair trial. He was allowed to graduate, receive a commission and enter active duty in 2021.
Critics note he was targeted while a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point was allowed to put a Communist Party quote on his cap.
Judicial Watch initially filed a December 2022 FOIA request for all records related to an investigation of the matter conducted by the Defense Department’s Inspector General, which found that while Buck did not make false statements in official reports, he did knowingly make false statements in phone calls and meetings on the matter.
The report found that “following Vice Admiral Buck’s interview with the midshipman at issue (whose name is redacted), Buck made false statements internally to other Navy officials on three separate occasions when he asserted that [the midshipman] said he would use military force against civilians.,” Judicial Watch reports.
“The report also notes that Buck used these false statements to support his recommendation that the midshipman be disenrolled from the Academy and be required to reimburse the Navy $174,753 for his tuition,” Judicial Watch adds.
The report finds:
We concluded by a preponderance of the evidence that [Vice Admiral] Buck did not make a false official statement, as defined by Article 107 of the [Uniform Code of Military Justice] … However, we found that VADM Buck made a statement that was false during both the conference call with [redacted] on February 18, 2021, and the office visit with [redacted] on February 24, 2021. We further found that VADM Buck knew that his statements were false, but we could not determine by a preponderance of the evidence that VADM Buck intended to make those false statements on either occasion to deceive [redacted] or [redacted]. Separately, we concluded that VADM Buck did not make a false official statement to former Secretary Braithwaite.
No action will be taken against Buck.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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The military ain’t worth chit anymore. Milley’s a clown, as are the other high ranking reprobates.
Miley is a damned ugly EVIL “clown”, sure nothing funny about the rotten America hating pile of💩!!!!!!!!
This is the military “leadership” that we are left with after obama got rid of all the real military leaders and replaced them with politicians in uniform. Is it any wonder why this country is so screwed up?
Guess who’s responsible for that. Give up? BHO.
As a Navy combat veteran, who served in VIETNAM in 1967, I can assure you that no veteran that I have ever conversed with would ever contemplate attacking or harming ANY American citizens so all of this anti-conservative action against sailors or soldiers has got to stop. A person who has taken the oath will give his life to protect the American people. Leave it at that.
Bad move, effect morale, redress
Buck is the liar and obvious hater of good American young men, and he gets not even a reprimand? What stupid military leadership America has, no wonder we are going down in flames! Buck used his authority to try to destroy a decent America loving sincere young man, he deserves to be kicked out of the service fined and spend time in prison!
I think that all of us overlook (forget the sell out brass, the politicians) the fact that this young man went back, WENT BACK: “was readmitted after suing the Academy alleging a violation of his constitutionally-protected right of free speech and right to a fair trial. He was allowed to graduate, receive a commission and enter active duty in 2021″ Talk about service? May not have recieved fire but dang, this is a man I’d like to meet and call a friend.
Glad to know a wrong was righted. Deeply concerned by behavior of an Officer? what is it about honor, truth, no cheating, etc. for officers in the US Military!! Not only his dishonorable behavior, but that he would so cavalierly ruin a young man’s career!?? What sort of a man, much less an Officer is that? And who would want to ever serve under him?
Vice-Admiral Buck’s actions in this case should warrant his immediate retirement at the grade of Rear-Admiral (Upper Half), the grade at which he last honorably served.
Seems the vice admiral should be demoted and his retirement impacted adversely
Tell me, is Buck a binary? Just axing.
What about YOU, General Milley? Choose wisely, lest the history books label you as ‘Silly Milley,’ who betrayed his nation over woke phantasms and sold us out to the Chinks.
All these leftists in upper military leadership positions will eventually lead to American soldiers saluting with an open hand.