Posted on 06/27/2004 8:09:15 AM PDT by bayourod
NEW YORK -- In the first public appearance since his exoneration, a Muslim Army chaplain who had been suspected of espionage thanked supporters of civil liberties.
James Yee was arrested last year in an investigation of suspected espionage at the U.S. military's detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was imprisoned for 76 days before all charges against him were dropped.
He appeared Friday night at a Chinatown benefit to raise money for his legal bills, although a gag order limited his ability to talk about the case.
"I'm not here tonight to talk about my case but to thank those who stand in support of civil liberties," Yee said. "I thank everyone for their patience, and God willing, they'll be able to hear my story."
Yee, 35, ministered to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, where the military is holding suspected Muslim terrorists. He was arrested in September carrying what authorities said were classified documents.
In March, Army officials dismissed all criminal charges against him, saying national security concerns prevented them from seeking a court-martial in open court.
Yee was then found guilty of the noncriminal Army charges of adultery and downloading pornography. The reprimand he received was thrown out by an Army general a month later.
Yee's case has garnered nationwide support, particularly among the Asian-American and Muslim communities.
"James Yee would not have been targeted if it were not for this heightened hysteria against Muslims," said Wayne Lum, an Asian-American community activist.
Several members of Congress, including Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, have called on the Pentagon to investigate the Army's treatment of Yee.
After he was exonerated, Yee returned to his home base of Fort Lewis, Wash., and resumed his duties as chaplain.
I would guess they are still watching him.
That's not my definition of "exonorated".
"Yee would not have been targeted if it were not for this heightened hysteria against Muslims"
Nor would he have had his job.
I say you are right.
In the first public appearance since his exoneration
In March, Army officials dismissed all criminal charges against him, saying national security concerns prevented them from seeking a court-martial in open court.
How is that exoneration??? If you can't see that this guy was working against America (being a muslim should be enough of a clue, but in this case there are others) than you're an idiot. If you can see at and choose to align yourself with him and his cause, then you are a democrat.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
If you're not convicted and sent to the slammer for whatever reason, you're exonerated.
Somebody up there simply needs to remove this scum - as the hollywierd saying goes "with extreme prejudice"
accidents do happen to traitors.
Kinda goes against the ridiculous headline. Hope we're feeding him all sorts of false info and lots of rope.
Incorrect. To exonerate means "to free from blame, to declare (a person) blameless" - a far cry from the reasons given by the Army for the charges being dropped.
Or would you consider a mobster who has committed murder but who has avoided prosecution (and, thus, fulfilled your understanding of "exonerated") by agreeing to testify against other criminals and has been placed in the WPP to be "blameless"?
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