Trump Pardons Army Officer Over COVID Rule Defiance

President Donald Trump has pardoned former Army officer Lt. Mark Bashaw, who was convicted in 2022 for defying COVID-19 safety protocols imposed under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the Biden administration. Bashaw, who served as company commander at the Army Public Health Center’s headquarters, was the first service member court-martialed over these regulations, though he received no punishment but acquired a criminal record, now erased by the pardon. The COVID mandates were rescinded in 2023, and Trump has issued an executive order aiming to reinstate service members discharged for refusing the vaccine. Bashaw has publicly expressed gratitude for the pardon and has voiced opposition to the COVID policies, citing conspiracy theories about the pandemic. The Pentagon has stated it is willing to assist returning service members, but Bashaw's reinstatement remains unconfirmed.