Decorated Air Force officer sues to avoid discharge under DADT
Wed. August 11, 2010 11:50 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho -
Decorated Air Force officer Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach filed a lawsuit Wednesday to stop the military from kicking him out under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Fehrenbach was put on desk duty in 2008, just days before he was supposed to deploy to Afghanistan, and told he was being investigated for possibly being gay.
The New York Times reports that the allegation was found to be bogus within three weeks, but that the military's investigation into Fehrenbach's sexuality continued.
Fehrenbach now thinks he might soon be discharged under DADT, just a year shy of his 20th year in the military. So on Wednesday, his lawyers filed a petition to block the discharge.
Fehrenbach has never admitted being gay. The military's investigation started when another man complained to Idaho police.
Fehrenbach did tell the civilian police investigator that he had willingly slept with his accuser, but now says he didn't realize that Air Force investigators were watching that interview.
The New York Times says that Fehrenbach has received glowing reviews over the course of his career.
Fehrenbach was put on desk duty in 2008, just days before he was supposed to deploy to Afghanistan, and told he was being investigated for possibly being gay.
The New York Times reports that the allegation was found to be bogus within three weeks, but that the military's investigation into Fehrenbach's sexuality continued.
Fehrenbach now thinks he might soon be discharged under DADT, just a year shy of his 20th year in the military. So on Wednesday, his lawyers filed a petition to block the discharge.
Fehrenbach has never admitted being gay. The military's investigation started when another man complained to Idaho police.
Fehrenbach did tell the civilian police investigator that he had willingly slept with his accuser, but now says he didn't realize that Air Force investigators were watching that interview.
The New York Times says that Fehrenbach has received glowing reviews over the course of his career.