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3mo ago

Trump Pardons Army Officer Court-Martialed for Defying COVID-19 Rules

Under a January executive directive, the Pentagon has launched efforts to reinstate service members ousted for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

Main: Lt. Mark Bashaw (right) look on during a ceremony held July 9 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, APG North Recreation Center, July 9, 2021. Inset: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Washington.
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Overview

  • On May 28, President Trump granted a full pardon to former 1st Lt. Mark Bashaw, expunging his 2022 conviction for refusing to telework, mask indoors and submit to COVID-19 testing.
  • Bashaw was the first service member court-martialed under Biden-era protocols after he declined the COVID-19 shot and associated safety measures.
  • In his first weeks back in office, Trump signed an order directing the Defense and Homeland Security secretaries to readmit troops discharged for vaccine refusal with full back pay and benefits.
  • This month the Pentagon began reaching out to thousands of former service members, with acting Deputy Undersecretary Tim Dill affirming the department’s commitment to their return.
  • After the pardon, Bashaw posted on X that he was “humbled, grateful, and ready to continue fighting for truth and justice,” sharing imagery tied to a debunked “plandemic” conspiracy.