[OldDeckHand]

"Furthermore, IF there WERE a “political agenda” here, rest assured that the Army would have slapped Lt Col Lakin with ADDITIONAL charges connected to:"

I can promise you that is the LAST thing the convening authority would do. Why would prosecution open the door for a defendant to make this case a political statement, by alleging political motivations? They wouldn't. That would be an amateur mistake.

Any competent prosecutor - military or civilian - wants the prosecution case to be as simple and straightforward as possible. Complications generally work towards the favor of the defendant.

[BP2]

I can promise you that is the LAST thing the convening authority would do. Why would prosecution open the door for a defendant to make this case a political statement, by alleging political motivations? They wouldn’t.

Yep. For once, we agree.

And if the JAG even insinuates it during the Court Martial hearings, Lakin’s attorneys will rightfully jump on it and readily discredit the Army for acting in a partisan and political manner.

[SeaHawkFan]

I am curious if there is a mens re element to the charges and wheter it would be stated or implied. Do you know. Whatever one may think about Lakin, I am pretty sure that he had no intent to disobey a lawful order.