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Update on Capt. James Yee, our favorite chappy
EFLSEATTLE - A Muslim Army chaplain embroiled in a case involving a suspected espionage ring at the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba returned home to Fort Lewis on Monday. Capt. James Yee arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport about 4:20 p.m., a few hours late after he had problems clearing security and missed his original flight. ``Both he and his father have experienced this problem since the character assassination against him began last year,ââ his lawyer, Eugene Fidell, said early Monday morning. In the past, Fidell said, Yee has been refused a plane ticket, but he did not know specifically what delayed the chaplain on Monday as he was trying to depart from Baltimore. Yeeâs wife and daughter live in Olympia. ``Itâs the kind of thing that demonstrates how critical it is that the government ... clear his name and get him out of this security limbo,ââ Fidell said. Yee, 35, spent 76 days in custody after the military linked him to a possible espionage ring at Guantanamo Bay. He was eventually charged with mishandling classified material, failing to obey an order, making a false official statement, adultery and conduct unbecoming an officer. Last month the Army dismissed all criminal charges, but did find him guilty of the minor violations of adultery and improperly downloading pornography onto an Army computer. He also requested Gen. James Hill, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, recuse himself from the case and asked that the military return Yeeâs passport, restore him to duty and grant him a formal apology. As of Monday he said he had received no response. Ainât gonna happen. Fidell has said the Armyâs decision to drop most of the charges and hold an Article 15 proceeding - used to settle minor disciplinary issues - hurt Yeeâs defense preparation and minimized media scrutiny. Also dropped the level of proof to a preponderance of evidence where 50% sure heâs guilty plus the smallest smidge is good enough. Posted by: Super Hose 2004-04-08 |
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