MAGA donors who freed Lt Col Stuart Scheller slam him for negative comments on Trump
Late last month, Lt Col Stuart Scheller, an Officer in the US Marine Corps, who was relieved of his command for chastising his bosses over the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, landed in military lockup. In a now-viral video from August 26, that Scheller posted on Facebook, he said, "People are upset because their senior leaders let them down. And none of them are raising their hands and accepting accountability or saying, 'We messed this up'." Just over a day later, he was relieved of his duties.
Scheller's parents Stu and Cathy Scheller spoke to Fox News on October 1 and said that they were told by the Marine Corps that Lt Col Scheller could face "a long prison term." In a statement, earlier, Marine Corps spokesman Captain Sam Stephenson said that Scheller “is currently in pre-trial confinement in the Regional Brig for Marine Corps Installations East aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune pending an Article 32 preliminary hearing.”
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Reportedly, Scheller is accused of several offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Article 88, Contempt toward officials; Article 90, Willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer; Article 92, Failure to obey an order; and Article 133, Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
Following his arrest, over 27,000 donors contributed $2,450,721.76 (at the time of writing this) for the decorated U.S. Marine. The fundraiser, organized by the Pipe Hitter Foundation. These funds, per the Florida-based nonprofit, are to go towards emergency relief funds, relocation, possible loss of military benefits and retirement, family support during “this difficult time for his wife and three children”, mounting legal expenses, and the transition out of the military for Lt Col Scheller and his family.
Many of the donors left comments and a number of them seemed to be supporters of former President Donald Trump. One comment read, “I am mad as hell at our complete government at this time. President Trump was for the people. This administration and all of DC are a complete failure and embarrassment domestically and globally.”
But Scheller himself has expressed some opinions about Trump that were less than favorable towards the former POTUS. In a September 25 Facebook post, Scheller wrote, “President Trump. I was told by everyone to kiss the ring because of your following and power. I refuse. While I respect your foreign policy positions, I hate how you divided the country. I don’t need or want your help. You do not have the ability to pull US together. You may even win the next election. But your generation’s time is running out.
He further wrote, “Tell your son to stop tweeting about me. Your whole family knows nothing about US or our sacrifices. I could never work with you. I’d rather sit in jail and be released with a dishonorable than make compromises in my beliefs.” In another Facebook post, following that, Scheller clarified, “No, President Trump didn’t divide the country. But President Trump, in my humble opinion, is incapable of bringing us back together.”
“Did he expose the corruption in the DOJ, media, and other places,” he continued, “Yes. Was he the right person to expose the corruption at that time… maybe. Is he honest, accountable, and full of integrity… no. Would I want to work for a leader like that… no. I want a leader that will bring US together. Someone who has the courage to defend our country when called. My sons deserve that type of leader running the country in the future. That type of person is the only leader who I want in my corner.”
Following these posts being shared widely, many people on his fundraiser criticized him. One donor wrote, “After I just found out what you said about Trump, How dare your parents go a conservative TV, papers, letters from GOP on your behalf?? I had to make this small donation to let out the truth about YOU. You want no help from Trump and what you said about ‘not kissing the ring?’ For him to tell his kids not to talk about you? Why are the Democrats not helping your butt! I am calling my credit card and cancelling my previous 200.00 donation. Tell your parents to go cry on Democratic stations. This Marine family will not give you s*** now!”
Another donor wrote, “Because of his nastiness to our great leader Donald Trump, I am unwilling to send in the $1000 I had imagined I might send.” One donor also said, “I just found out this guy trashed Trump. I feel like I’ve totally been scammed out of my money.” More than two dozen Congressmembers formally wrote to the US Marine Corps Commander, General Berger, to release Scheller from custody. It was signed by Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Madison Cawthorn, and Thomas Massie, among others.