Paul E. Vallely - Support of Lieutenant Colonel Lakin Birther Claims

Support of Lieutenant Colonel Lakin Birther Claims

In 2010, Vallely was one of three retired general officers who expressed support for US Army Lieutenant Colonel Terrance Lee Lakin in his refusal to deploy to Afghanistan based on Lakin's claim that President Barack Obama had no legitimacy as commander in chief. In an interview, Vallely stated "I think many in the military – and many out of the military – question the natural-birth status of Barack Obama." Following Vallely's announcement, Army Major General (retired) Jerry Curry and Air Force Lieutenant General (retired) Thomas G. McInerney also expressed public support for Lakin. When Lakin refused the orders to deploy, the military initiated a court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. On September 2, 2010, the presiding judge of the court-martial ruled that Obama's status as a natural-born citizen is irrelevant in the court-martial case against Lakin, as Obama's eligibility is outside the jurisdiction of the military and falls within the jurisdiction of the United States Congress instead. Lakin was convicted on a charge of missing movement, sentenced to six months confinement and dismissed from the Army.