Marine Charged for Facebook Comments Gets Hearing Date
The special court martial hearing for Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller regards the six counts he was charged with on Wednesday, a day after he was released following more than a week of pre-trial confinement.
Scheller, an Afghanistan veteran, is accused of:disrespect toward superior commissioned officers; willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer; dereliction in the performance of duties; failure to obey order or regulation; and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. The first count — contempt toward officials — was dropped.
Scheller was released from pretrial confinement on Tuesday after spending more than a week in the brig. The release followed intense public criticism and rebukes from several members of Congress.
Military law experts told Newsmax that the imprisonment was not only unnecessary but disproportionately harsh.
Scheller posted the first of several videos to his Facebook page criticizing military leaders on Aug. 26, the same day a suicide bombing attack killed 13 military members and 170 others at the Kabul airport. He followed that with several more similar posts.
Scheller had announced during the videos that he intended to bring charges against senior military officials for their actions regarding the withdrawal. He also announced on Aug. 29 that he was resigning his commission — after being relieved of command.
His attorney, Tony Buzbee, did not immediately respond to emails and a phone call seeking comment.
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