San Diego Navy SEAL under investigation for alleged extremist affiliations

[Nevilledog]

https://www.kpbs.org/news/military/2023/11/09/san-diego-navy-seal-under-investigation-for-alleged-extremist-affiliations

A San Diego-based Navy SEAL is under investigation by the service for allegedly violating the military's rules against participating in extremist activity, a Naval Special Warfare official told KPBS Wednesday.

The SEAL, Chief Special Warfare Operator Bryce Henson, has become a leading figure at school protests against LGBTQ+ rights throughout Southern California, according to a recent Los Angeles Times investigation.

Henson — who has spoken at school boards, city councils and to the Los Angeles Times under the false name "Ben Richards" — told the Times in an interview he is a "veteran," but that's only part of the truth. He's a Navy SEAL and still on active duty, the Navy confirmed.

In a collection of photos and videos collected by community members at rallies over more than one year and sent to the Navy, Henson often appears next to alleged members of the Proud Boys — designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

*snip*

[Lunabell]

1. Get him out!

If he can't fight for ALL Americans and uphold the constitution, forget him! Go join your racist, antisemitic, LGBTQIA hating brothers and sisters
Put on your brownshirt, you don't deserve be an American Navy Seal. You're a traitor.

[Initech]

2. Another mind rotted by Fox and right wing propaganda.

Turn. That. Fucking. Shit. Off. It's very bad for you.

[Bluethroughu]

3. Ben/Bryce should be court martialed for giving aid to traitors.

Strip him of his pay, pension, and freedom.

If you give aid and comfort to a group that attacked our country, you are a traitor.

[Permanut]

4. I'm guessing he's in the Trump cult..

You know, the one that's led by a man who referred to soldiers lost in WWI as losers.

This Navy vet, honorably discharged in 1971, is still waiting for an explanation of how EVEN ONE military or veteran would support Cadet Bonespurs.

[Silent Type]

5. Have never been impressed with any Navy Seals since photos of them beating handcuffed and blindfolded

Iraqis were released.

[Chainfire]

6. Bust him down to penguin 3nd class and send him home.

[Jedi Guy]

7. Probably an unpopular opinion, but...

As far as I'm aware, UCMJ and DoD rules state that he can't wear his uniform at such protests or attend while on duty and he can't break any laws or take part in any violent activities. Unless I'm mistaken, he also can't claim to speak for the military, as if he were a spokesperson. I've never been in the military, though, and just did some idle research on Google. I could very well be wrong.

If he's attending protests at schools, even anti-LGBTQ protests, he's within his rights to do so. The article quotes a Navy spokesperson as saying, emphasis mine:

While Sailors are always allowed to exercise their rights to freedom of speech and assembly if they follow the law and policy restriction, participation with hate or extremist groups of any kind is contradictory to the core values of the Navy and is not tolerated by NSW.

From that, I infer that the Navy will have to prove active involvement on his part with the Proud Boys or another extremist group. Being near them in a picture or even multiple pictures probably isn't going to cut it.

Unless that's proven, though, he has the right to be present at those protests and voice his support for those viewpoints, repugnant though they are.

[keithbvadu2]

8. Ben Richards - Running Man?... Too cowardly to appear in his own name.

[Moostache]

9. Sounds like a candidate for dishonorable discharge at minimum (n/t)