Military Officer Treated as a Terrorist Following Religious Objection to COVID Shot
He was interrogated like a criminal and his sensitive program access revoked—now it’s impacting his civilian career.
A military officer who worked on special access programs (SAPs) received an ultimatum in 2022—get the COVID shot in violation of his religious beliefs or leave the military. He was forced to endure interrogation and a polygraph test in a non-descript converted maintenance facility about his supposed participation in terrorist organization and activities. He chose to leave the military in 2023, and he believes that decision caused retaliation against him that continues today.
Restoration News interviewed this service member and his attorney. We also obtained verifiable documents to corroborate his story. Due to the sensitive nature of his work and fear of retaliation, we will not use his name or service designation. We will refer to him as Daniel.
Daniel, a devout Catholic active in his parish, has an unblemished and distinguished service record. He thought nothing of requesting a religious exemption for the COVID shot since he had no issues when he refused the flu vaccine. When his request was denied, he was told to appeal it to the Surgeon General of his service. During the appeal process, Daniel identified Defense Department guidance that stipulated the illegitimacy of the Surgeon General as the appeal authority since he sits outside the chain of command. The officer who gave the final rejection was the highest-ranking person in the command and regulations didn’t define further appeal authority.
Daniel decided he wouldn't leave the military without doing all he could to stop the forced discharge.
This denial of appeal violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The RFRA states a religious appeal may be delegated no lower than the service Deputy Chief of Staff level. In Feb. 2022, Daniel sent an Inspector General’s complaint requesting his case go to the proper appeal authority but never received a response.
The Polygraph
Instead of a response to his appeal, Daniel faced an interrogation. On April 11, 2022, Daniel received notification to take a polygraph—even with his discharge scheduled for July 1. The polygraph was scheduled for May 25, just 11 duty days before he would exit the military (due to permanent leave previously scheduled for June 11). Daniel believes the polygraph served only one purpose: harassment. He didn’t yet have follow-on employment that would require a security clearance or SAP access. Because of that, he had no reason for continuous access of secret information that justifies the administration of a polygraph.
Daniel had previously completed a successful polygraph just a few years prior. It was out of the ordinary that he would be chosen for another one so soon, given the backlog of thousands of others who had never been subject to any polygraphs.
He received an address on base for the location to meet the polygrapher. Since he didn't recognize the address, he arrived early but couldn’t locate the meeting point. He drove to the security office to ask for directions—but even they didn't recognize the address. The polygrapher eventually called him and he located the address in an old maintenance building.
The polygrapher penalized him for tardiness.
Daniel immediately began to have concerns with the questions asked. The polygrapher grilled him on whether he belonged to a terror organization or if he had ever done anything unethical or lied to a superior. After continued questions around terrorism, Daniel sarcastically said he felt like they were acting like terrorists toward him.
According to Daniel, the polygrapher knew in advance of his refusal to take the COVID shot.
Daniel says the polygrapher asked if he would come back for a follow-up polygraph. He said he would be willing but that he would be out of the military soon and looking for another job. The polygrapher recorded Daniel as "not available for additional testing” even though he said he would come back as often as needed.
In early June 2022 he returned for a second follow-up polygraph, and a third on September. In September he was out of the military, working as a contractor.
In Oct 2022, Daniel’s attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding an end to unlawful and retaliatory actions. The attorney noted unusual behavior by the polygrapher in September:
[T]wo polygraph sensors were reconfigured a total of four times over three sets of questions. The blood pressure cuff was moved from [Daniel’s] wrist to his calf to his bicep as the polygrapher stated that he was having difficulty getting a reliable reading. Metallic monitors to measure perspiration attached to fingers were replaced with new monitors that were adhesive-based and attached to his palm. None of this was annotated in the report from this polygraph . . .
Daniel says the questions were uncharacteristic of his past polygraph years before. It felt to him like a set-up. He never received any formal written notification of the outcome of the polygraphs. However, he says shortly after he started a defense contracting job in 2023, he received a concerning call. Someone he knew from his office while on active duty called to let him know he no longer had permission to enter the building. All they could tell him was that it had to do with not passing a polygraph. To date he still has not received any formal notification of the polygraph results. Yet he cannot continue his previous work on SAPs as a contractor.
Daniel had to obtain the polygraph results through a Freedom of Information Act request.
According to his attorney, the polygrapher’s analysis of Daniel’s responses conflict with the recordings of the polygraph. He had to answer questions that seemed well outside the bounds of a counter-intelligence polygraph.
COVID Mandates Are Unlawful
War Secretary Pete Hegseth has deemed the COVID vaccine mandate an unlawful order. Daniel’s situation is unique, due to his line of work. He has had no success in pushing his case through the proper channels even with an attorney by his side.
America invests a lot of money in our service members, especially those like Daniel who have special skills invaluable to our nation. America must allow our most important military assets the full rights of conscience without the threat of retaliation. If Daniel has no other blemishes on his service record, our military leaders must make this right.
Republished with permission from Restoration News.
Victoria Manning is a Senior Investigative Researcher for Restoration News specializing in education freedom, immigration, and military issues. She is the author of Behind the Wall of Government Schools. Victoria served 8 years as an elected school board member and has a master’s degree in law. She also brings the perspective of a military spouse and mother to her reporting.
