In a bold move that’s igniting both cheers and outrage, President Donald J. Trump has officially pardoned former Lt. Mark Bashaw, the military officer who became a lightning rod during the COVID era for refusing to follow federal mask mandates.
Lt. Bashaw was court-martialed in 2022 after standing against face mask requirements and other pandemic protocols while serving in the U.S. Army. Branded as defiant by some, and a patriot by others, his case drew national attention for exposing the tension between obedience and conscience in the military.
