The U.S. Army Charges “Birther Doc” With Court Martial

by Thomas Wellborn

Army doctor Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin is facing court martial charges, not for his personal beliefs, but due to his alleged actions based on those beliefs – his unwillingness to follow orders.  The American Patriot Foundation has released the charging document.

On Thursday, April 22, the Medical Center Brigade Headquarters Company Commander preferred charges against LTC Terrence Lakin pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. LTC Lakin was charged with one specification of a violation of Article 87, Missing Movement and four specifications of a violation of Article 92 (three specifications of Failure to Obey a Lawful Order, and one Specification of Dereliction of Duty).

Following the preferral of charges, and service of the charges on LTC Lakin, the Medical Center Brigade Headquarters Company Commander forwarded the charges to the Acting Medical Center Brigade Commander with a recommendation to dispose of the charges at a General Court-Martial. The Acting Medical Center Brigade Commander, in her capacity as the Summary Court Convening Authority, directed the appointment of an Article 32, UCMJ pre-trial investigation to inquire into the truth of the matters set forth in the charges and to secure information to determine what disposition should be made of the case in the interest of justice and discipline.

The date for the Article 32 investigation has not been set. Upon receipt of appointment orders, The Article 32 Investigating officer will establish a hearing date.

A press release by American Patriot Foundation, which is raising money for Lakin’s defense, paints Lakin as a hero.

“I invited my court martial, and today I stand ready to answer these charges. I was prepared to deploy if only the President would authorize the release of the proof of his eligibility. He refused, and now the court will determine the issue, and my fate. The constitution matters. The truth matters,” he said.

Lakin is part of the “birther movement,” who believes Obama is ineligible to be president because he is not native-born, a confounding belief considering how much proof has been offered to the contrary.  President Obama’s birth certificate has been publicly available for some time.

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