The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a three-member panel has requested an other-than-honorable discharge from the Corps for Sgt. Gary Stein. The recommendation was made around 11p.m. Pacific Time (that's 2a.m. here) and followed a full day of testimony about Stein's activities on his Facebook page, Armed Forces Tea Party.
Prosecution argued that Stein's posts on the site, which included angry and critical comments about President Obama. They also testified that Stein also sold bumper stickers reading NOBAMA 2012 on another website.
The Marine's defense team maintained that he was exercising his First Amendment right and acting as an individual, not as a Marine, when he made the comments. They said Stein did not enjoy full citizenship if he was barred from entering political discussion.
Stein's case will now go to Brig. Gen. Daniel Yoo, the general officer who convened the hearing, for a decision on whether or not to accent the board's recommendation.
Read more here.
