https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/10/likely-charges-announced-lt-col-scheller-speaking-military-leaders-surrendered-taliban-armed-80-billion-us-weapons/Rep. Nehls has asked, and received the official statement by the Marine Corps as to why LtCol Scheller was confined. They cite the current Restriction of Movement (ROM) policy, which requires a 14 day quarantine. I checked, it's true, that policy has been in effect for some time, so the Marine Corps is simply treating the LtCol as they would anyone else under an article 32 investigation. Bad optic, poor timing, sure. The same rules apply to innocent men that apply to the guilty - how often do we rush to judgment before the investigation is over, when we think the person is guilty. Here the Marine Corps is in fact doing its job, protecting the process that is designed to protect his innocence. I'm glad Rep. Nehls asked the question, and put the answer out there for the rest of us so as to address the rumors. Lots of rumors out there. Even on this very forum I had to address a patently false rumor about Navy Chaplains that made headlines in conservative circles of all places!
He has not been charged yet, I thought that was interesting. I thought that was supposed to happen Thursday. Given the celebrity of this case, I'm sure the Investigating Officer ... who by the way is not a cop, or a prosecutor, but just another officer in the command assigned by the Commanding Officer to conduct an investigation per the rules. This is to eliminate prosecutorial bias. In other words, one of his peers is investigating the allegations, and will inform the command if the allegations have merit enough to continue ... or not. My experience with Article 32 proceedings in cases like this, is that Investigating Officer may find nothing to substantiate any of the allegations except 133, Conduct Unbecoming. Which is not a Courts Martial proceeding, but a punitive letter from the CO in NJP, and cannot alter his status of discharge. I'm not a JAG/SJA but I've sure advised on enough cases that it would seem very very odd to me if the Marine Corps did more than a 133 at NJP, letter, and accept his resignation. If it doesn't go that route, then to me that's a clear indication of undue interest. But it would mean he gets a Courts Martial, which includes a jury, and that could go very well for him.
Despite popular opinion, many in the military have asked the same questions he did, and continue to do so, in much more effective ways. It may be hard to believe, but there are alot of great Americans in the Marine Corps, many of whom are involved in LtCol Scheller's case. They may be in 100% agreement with his line of questioning. And at the same time recognize, this isn't about breaking a good old boys rule. He did in fact violate an order, if not for the original video, then definitely for the second, before which he had signed a document acknowledging that he understood and would obey said order. There is such a thing as doing the right thing, the wrong way, and for many in the military today who agree with LtCol Scheller's point, they also recognize he went about it the wrong way.
Call him a hero if you like; if you do not know the law under which he swore to abide, it would be easy to miss what is happening to him. When his case is over, you will remember his name, but he will not have made the difference that hundreds of other equally patriotic officers are making right now, asking the same questions, in the right venues to the right people, to make sure its not just a media minute, but legacy of change.
