Friday 15 October 2021

Lt. Colonel Stuart Scheller, 40, is given a letter of reprimand and ordered to forfeit $5K in pay for his attack on Biden's Afghan withdrawal at his court martial: Judge cites his 'outstanding record' as reason for not giving him maximum penalty

 Defiant Marine Lt Col Stuart Scheller has been ordered to receive a letter of reprimand and to forfeit $5,000 in pay over his blistering online attacks on generals he blamed for the deadly and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.    

Scheller, 40 stood rigidly in his uniform and showed no emotion as Judge Colonel Glen Hines read out his decision – after praising the 17-year veteran's previously 'outstanding' service record.

The judge at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, said he had watched all the four videos overnight that were posted by Scheller and 'saw a man who appeared to be in pain, frustrated and confused'.

He said he also spent the evening reviewing Scheller's service record – which was 'outstanding before this one month of conduct'.

Judge Hines added: 'I don't think I've seen an officer consistently in, as we say, the top three blocks of the Christmas tree. He was on a consistent upward path.'

But in the sentencing, he told Scheller: 'Those who deviate from standards have to be held accountable.'

In sentencing on day two of the special hearing, the judge formally told Scheller he would be docked $5,000 pay for one month and would be reprimanded. 

Defiant Marine Lt Col Stuart Scheller faces sentencing at a special court martial today following his blistering online attacks on generals he says are responsible for the deadly and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan

Defiant Marine Lt Col Stuart Scheller faces sentencing at a special court martial today following his blistering online attacks on generals he says are responsible for the deadly and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan 

'Feeling good.' Lt. Colonel Scheller arrives to hear his fate
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Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was thrown in brig for breaking gag order after the soldier had blasted the US hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan

Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was thrown in brig for breaking gag order after the soldier had blasted the US hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan

 And he made the point of saying Scheller had only escaped a further $5,000 second month penalty because he had spent nine days in the brig, the Marine's jail.

Scheller's parents Stuart Sr and Cathy sat quietly in the first row of seating behind their son as he was sentenced.

The Marine – awarded the Bronze Star amid multiple tours of Afghanistan and Iraq – was subdued as he walked into the courtroom alone after telling media outside: 'I feel good about everything I said.'

He left with his parents and refused to make a comment about the sentence. A special court martial has limited powers and cannot jail an officer.

Scheller's attorney Tim Palatore said after the hearing: 'Every veteran who served in Afghanistan is and should be feeling pain from this situation.

'He obviously exhibited his pain in a certain way and at this point he is going to go back and take some time for himself, some quiet time. And then figure out what he is going to do next in his life.

'He put his career on the line and as you just saw, he has lost his career to put out a message. And if that message goes unheard, if nothing happens from it, then the pain will continue.'  

The US Marine gained notoriety in August when he released a public video ripping into the Afghanistan fiasco that allowed the country to fall to the Taliban.  

He pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was seeking an honorable discharge or a discharge with honorable intent and a letter of reprimand.

'I feel good,' Scheller said as he entered the court building on his own today, and  came out briefly to add: 'I feel good about everything I said.'

The decorated officer – whose four videos and other social media posts went viral – made an impassioned speech to the hearing on Thursday, saying: 'This is not the America I know.

'This is not the America that I have fought so hard to defend the last 17 years.'

Scheller, 40 – who admitted to the hearing that his life has 'spiraled' out of control with the breakdown of his marriage and loss of a business he co-owned – added: 'I was never charged with a false official statement. Because everything I have said is true.

'If the Marine Corps could have charged me with that, they would have. My statements all center around the fact that I do not believe General Officers are held to the same standards as junior leaders.'

Scheller's posts demanded Pentagon staff should be held accountable for the fiasco that led to the Taliban taking lightning control of Afghanistan after President Joe Biden's withdrawal announcement – and the eventual deaths of 13 US service members and 170 Afghans from suicide bomb attacks at Kabul airport on August 16.

He told the hearing at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, that his bosses had spun a smear campaign against him during his posting spree, wrongly claiming he was suicidal.

Scheller arrived grim-faced for his special court martial yesterday following his blistering social media attacks on military top brass over the Afghanistan withdrawal fiasco

Scheller arrived grim-faced for his special court martial yesterday following his blistering social media attacks on military top brass over the Afghanistan withdrawal fiasco

Yesterday Colonel Stuart Scheller Jr. (seen in uniform) was flanked by his defense team including lawyer Timothy Parlatore as he walked to the courtroom at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina

Yesterday Colonel Stuart Scheller Jr. (seen in uniform) was flanked by his defense team including lawyer Timothy Parlatore as he walked to the courtroom at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina 

'I also believe that once I spoke out, the Marine Corps holistically took every opportunity to attack me, and never actually cared about my well-being,' he said.

'But it's hard for the Marine Corps to defeat someone who refuses to quit. Going forward, I am still demanding accountability from my senior General officers. Since this endeavor began, not a single General officer has accepted accountability.

'Not a single General officer has contacted me directly in any forum to de-escalate the situation. Since this endeavor began, I have acknowledged that I should be held accountable for my actions.

'I am standing here today pleading guilty. This is me accepting accountability. But it deeply pains me that my senior leaders are incapable of being as courageous.'

Lt. Colonel Stuart Scheller was charged with six violations of the military code

Lt. Colonel Stuart Scheller was charged with six violations of the military code

Scheller has admitted six charges and the prosecution has demanded he lose $5,000 of his monthly pay for six months and receive a reprimand. He wants to quit the Marines, but bosses have not yet accepted his resignation. He earns $92,931 a year, the court heard.

The officer – awarded the Bronze Star during multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq - continued to ram home his criticism of his bosses during the hearing.

He said : 'General officers have relegated themselves to 'yes sir' responses. We need senior leaders who possess the morale courage to push back when something doesn't make sense.

'I did what I did because I thought it was in the best long-term interest of the Marine Corps. I have always wanted to make the Marine Corps better. Not damage the Marine Corps. I acknowledge that my actions placed the Marine Corps in a position where they were forced to respond and couldn't quietly hide behind closed doors.

'My actions were very public, and at times, very emotional. But I think the emotional rollercoaster that I went through, is what every service member in the country goes through. The only difference is that my experience was very public.'

Scheller was ordered to take a mental health evaluation during the online postings spree. But he pointed out the Marine Corps had never asked him to take one at other critical points of his life, such as missing the birth of children or being unable to attend family funerals.

US Marine Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller, pictured with mother Catherine and father Stuart Sr.

US Marine Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Scheller, pictured with mother Catherine and father Stuart Sr.

Supporters raised over $2 million for the marine who was jailed for defying orders to stop publicly criticizing the nation's Afghanistan withdrawal

Supporters raised over $2 million for the marine who was jailed for defying orders to stop publicly criticizing the nation's Afghanistan withdrawal

'The Marine Corps only cared about my mental health once I publicly challenged the leadership,' he said.

'After I was released from the hospital, I felt like all bets were off. I felt like the Marine Corps was out to get me, and I didn't feel like a single officer or previous peer had my back.'

He said he joined the Marines after working as an accountant straight out of college when he saw footage of troops from the elite corps in the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004.

At the center of this violent attack, was the unit V18,' he said. 'Watching those Marines filled me with awe, respect, and love.

'I knew how much I loved America, and I was mad at myself for not making more sacrifices for the country. I called the Marine Corps that day and began my journey.'

Scheller eventually joined unit V18 before much later becoming commander of an infantry training battalion at Camp Lejeune. Members of V18 were the majority of the victims of the deadly suicide bomber attack in Kabul, helping to spark his viral postings.

Scheller has admitted contempt toward officials, disrespect toward the superior commissioned officers, willfully disobeying superior commissioned officers, dereliction in the performance of duties, failure to obey order or regulation, and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.


The day after his first post on the day of the deadly airport attack, he was stripped of his job commanding the school of infantry at the massive Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. This was due to 'a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,' Marines spokesman Major Jim Stenger said at the time.

Despite the firing, Scheller continued to post another video and written statements on social media in the face of orders to stop. These also went viral, gaining hundreds of thousands of views.

In one he promised to file charges against the commander of U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie, saying: 'Senior leaders need to be held accountable the same as us.'

Eventually he was sent to the brig – the Marines' jail – on September 27, sparking a massive groundswell of support to get him out from the grim confinement. He was freed a week later on October 5 after his lawyers came to an agreement with the Marine Corps.

Scheller accepted his guilt on all the charges, but at times defiantly explained the reasons for his stand – and still took jabs at the higher command.

In his passionate statement to the court martial, Scheller said, 'My calls for revolution were always about changing the system. A system that centralizes power and fails to hold senior leaders accountable. A system that will immediately turn on you if you speak out.

'If I could go back, I would have chosen different words. But at no time was that a call to violence. I was stating that the system is broken and needs to be rebuilt. I still feel this is the case.'

Before his statement, he said he made one video in a Red Roof Inn hotel in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and added: 'My life was spiraling at this time. I was receiving messages that I was going to be court martialed because of my statements.'

But he denied his actions were due to a severe mental state.

Pressed by the judge, Colonel Glen Hines, about the mental effects of the stress, he said: 'I was ordered to get a mental evaluation.'

The judge asked what had happened when 'your life was spiraling out of control'.

Some US representatives have said Scheller Jr's imprisonment 'appears to be for messaging, retribution, and convenience.' The brig is pictured

Some US representatives have said Scheller Jr's imprisonment 'appears to be for messaging, retribution, and convenience.' The brig is pictured

A source close to the case says he stayed in an area of the brig normally for murderers

A source close to the case says he stayed in an area of the brig normally for murderers

Scheller replied: 'My wife had left me and I had a small business taken from me.'

The officer also inferred that the Marine Corp had played dirty tricks and twisted his words as the result of a conversation he had with his deputy, making them more inflammatory.

He was asked by judge Col. Hines if he made a comment about the riot at the Capitol Building with the words: 'I'm going to burn the system down. Those guys on January 6 were not a bunch of pu**ies.'

Scheller said: 'It was taken out of context. I didn't use those exact words. I said words to that effect.'

The alleged comments were during a conversation with Scheller's number 2 in command, the hearing was told. Scheller said: 'My XO (executive officer) led me into a conversation by telling me I was getting a lot of support, how the Marine Corp was f***ed and becoming political.

'I then replied if there was ever a group of people you could…'

Scheller's words faded off. He then said: 'I thought I was talking to someone in a private conversation who was trustworthy. This was after I had been relieved of my command.

'Investigators took those words and asked every single person, my wife, my mom and dad. And those words were leaked.'

He told the hearing he filmed a total of four videos and six or seven written posts on social media, with the final viral video 'sparking the gag order'. Two of them were while he was wearing uniform.

On his second video post he said he 'called for a change to the system and a revolution'.

Scheller publicly shared his resignation letter, addressing it to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Torro and citing 'a lack of trust and confidence in your ability to lead'

Scheller publicly shared his resignation letter, addressing it to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Torro and citing 'a lack of trust and confidence in your ability to lead'

Lt. Scheller arrives for court-martial after facing several charges
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He continued: 'That video is what scared everybody. I was very deliberate. I thought, the best case is the Marine Corps are going to hide me for three years as a failure. And that would be a lie.'

When he referred on video to bringing 'the whole f***ing system down', he agreed with the judge over its tone in hindsight, saying: 'I would have used different language.'

But he added: 'I was full of emotion, anger, betrayal.'

When asked about the charge of dereliction of duty, he replied: 'I willfully disobeyed an order (in order to) tell hard truths,'

Referring to the generals, he told the hearing: 'I made statements about their incompetence.'

Scheller is seeking an honorable discharge or a discharge with honorable intent and a letter of reprimand.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke on Scheller's behalf to the hearing via a Zoom link – saying: 'I'm amazed at his courage.

'I cannot express how millions of Americans are outraged about the military leadership. I believe it was right of him.

'I'm outraged that none of the leaders are sitting in court right now being held accountable for their actions. We need accountability. Thirteen military members died needlessly. We abandoned US citizens in Afghanistan. Yes, there needs to be accountability and it's right to stand up and say that.

'Lt Col Scheller is in court. You should have Mark Milley (Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff) and the Secretary of Defense.'

Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert - who sent a letter demanding Scheller's release form the brig after he was held - also testified on the officer's behalf.

He called the withdrawal from Afghanistan 'a surrender' and Scheller 'a hero'. He went on: 'Here you have a person who has pled guilty. People just can't believe what's going on in America and especially in the Marines. They don't leave people on the battlefield but that seems to have taken a hit in recent days.'

The Marines Corp's investigation into Scheller runs to more than 600 pages, the hearing was told.

Scheller's lead attorney Tim Parlatore said in closing arguments Thursday: 'The charges against Lt Col Scheller began with a call for accountability by the senior military leadership and end here, with Lt Col Scheller standing tall, leading by example, and showing the nation that he is willing to accept responsibility and accountability for his actions.

'For Lt Col Scheller to do anything other than take full responsibility for his actions would make him a hypocrite. He admits that, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a commissioned officer, like him, is not allowed to question why senior leaders took actions that he believed led to the needless loss of 13 American servicemembers lives.'

Scheller referred to a David Borden in his impassioned statement. This was a former Army infantry captain assigned to the Marines, who was severely wounded by a suicide bomber that claimed the life of one of his patrol.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was jailed in a North Carolina brig Monday for defying orders to stop publicly criticizing US's Afghanistan withdrawal. He has served in the Marines for 17 years

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller was jailed in a North Carolina brig Monday for defying orders to stop publicly criticizing US's Afghanistan withdrawal. He has served in the Marines for 17 years

He lost a leg and nearly lost this life in the bombing in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2008. Scheller served closely with Borden, who gave a glowing tribute to his former comrade during the court martial, saying he had helped him pull through his 'darkest' times.

Another ex-comrade, former Marine infantry officer Matthew Underhill gave testimony saying Scheller was 'destined for a star' – meaning he would one day become a general. He added; 'I still feel that. He treated junior marines with respect but also demanded accountability. That was his thing, accountability.'

One of the accused officer's legal team, Jerimiah Sullivan, pointed out to the hearing: 'No one has said that what Lt Col Scheller has said is false.

'We want to put that into perspective. We do have an issue with the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the loss of 13 service members. That was preventable.'

Parlatore told DailyMail.com exclusively before the hearing: 'It is interesting to note that senior leaders have not dismissed his message. But they want to crush the messenger.'

Scheller has waived his right to a trial by jury and has elected trial by military judge alone.

Parlatore said outside the courtroom Thursday: 'This is a sentencing case. Stu has accepted responsibility. He is going to plead guilty so this is not a matter of going in and saying, hey he did the right thing but it is a matter of saying what is an appropriate punishment given the circumstances under which he committed these videos.

'We expect he will get a letter of reprimand. We are not expecting any confinement. He has submitted his resignation and the Secretary of the Navy will later decide on that.'

Asked how Scheller was feeling , Parlatore said: 'Any criminal defendant walking into a court house is not going to feel that great. So obviously there are always nerves. But at the same time he is looking forward to the opportunity to put this thing to rest and to come out, accept responsibility.

'This case all began with demand for accountability. Today he is going to show the Pentagon what it looks like to stand up and take accountability for your actions.'

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