President Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to a former U.S. Army officer convicted by a military court martial for refusing to follow the Pentagon’s COVID-19 measures under the Biden administration.

Former Lt. Mark Bashaw was discharged from the Army following his 2022 conviction.

Bashaw refused to take the COVID-19 shot, work remotely, submit a COVID-19 test before reporting to office, or wear a face mask indoors.

Per USA TODAY:

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.

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“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member of the military to be tried by a court martial over Biden-era COVID-19 rules for the military, which were later rescinded in 2023 when the pandemic subsided.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.

“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, WRWY,” Bashaw said.

From The Hill:

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 Biden.

Trump in a Jan. 27 executive order stipulated that the booted service members could be brought back with full back pay and benefits, with an easier medical screening.

The Pentagon last month started to try to woo back to the military the service members who left.

 

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