President Donald Trump pardoned former Army officer Mark Bashaw, who was convicted in 2022 for not following COVID-19 safety protocols, including refusing to wear a mask and submit to testing. Despite not receiving punishment, Bashaw's conviction resulted in a criminal record. He alleged religious discrimination that contributed to his discharge in 2023. Following the pardon, he expressed gratitude and determination on social media. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stopped recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children, signaling a shift in health policy that coincides with military directive changes from Trump regarding discharges due to vaccine refusal.
Bashaw, who was an entomologist at the Army Public Health Center in Maryland, said he was facing discrimination because of his religious beliefs.
After receiving the pardon on Wednesday, Bashaw said on social media that he was 'humbled, grateful, and ready to continue fighting for truth and justice.'
This week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that his department would no longer recommend the coronavirus vaccine for healthy pregnant women and healthy children.
Trump issued an executive action directing the defense secretary to reinstate members of the military who were discharged for their refusal to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
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