Photo Credit: GetEQUAL
After Lt. Dan Choi and Cpt. James Pietrangelo II were arrested in March and April for chaining themselves to the White House fences in a non-violent protest against the government’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, both Choi and Pietrangelo were charged with two counts of Failure to Obey a Lawful Order.
But the government suddenly dropped the charges against both men yesterday, right before their trial was set to start.
In a press release from Get Equal, Choi thanked supporters and friends.
“Today, truth was the victor against a demeaning, discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said Lt. Dan Choi. “We won’t stop pressing for repeal and pressuring those standing in the way until the day comes when not one more gay or lesbian servicemember is fired. And, as of today, the President refuses to tell us when that day will actually come.”
“It is clear that the government was embarrassed and we were prepared to make them defend this antiquated and homophobic law. The government is afraid of having to defend this issue,” said Cpt. James Pietrangelo II. “The subpoena was an embarrassment for them, ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is an embarrassment for them and, after three months of discovery and preparation, the government dropped the case because they know it’s an embarrassment.”
The House has passed the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal, but the Senate is still deliberating on the issue.
