Lawyer: Air Force lied about dropping charges against fighter pilot

June 20, 2003

Major Harry Schmidt's lawyer says the Air Force tried to mislead the press and the public by claiming to have dropped manslaughter and assault charges against his client while secretly retaining them.

Yesterday, the Air Force said a general was recommending that Schmidt and Major William Umbach not face courts-martial, and that Schmidt face two criminal counts of dereliction of duty in a non-judicial hearing.

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JAG Hunter comment: Congress did not intend that non-judicial hearings be used to examine charges for manslaughter and assault. This is an end run by Air Force royalty to placate the Canadians. Majors Schmidt and Umbach are innocents caught up in a tragic "fog of war" accident. Did you know the U.S. government awarded the Bronze Star to each of the four Canadian soldiers who died in this friendly-fire accident?