Leading Republican lawmakers are demanding answers from the Army after gate security at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, was given an anti-terrorism briefing that lumped mainstream anti-abortion groups in with extremist groups.
The slide presentation was botched in many ways, including also labeling non-violent, left-wing groups as terrorists. But Republicans are homing in on the anti-abortion slide to charge that the Army is targeting conservative political beliefs.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., personnel subcommittee Chairman Jim Banks, R-Ind., and other committee Republicans sent a letter to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth over the weekend calling for answers by July 25 on how the slideshow came to be.
Read Next: Marine Veteran of Gulf War Identified as Rallygoer Seriously Injured in Trump Assassination Attempt
“It is crucial that our military maintains political neutrality and respect for diverse viewpoints within the bounds of the law,” the 25 lawmakers wrote in the letter to Wormuth. “Regardless of any base commanders’ concern for protests from potential groups, the idea that such protected constitutional activities by lawful organizations qualifies them as terrorists is absurd.”
The lawmakers pressed the Army for a more substantial response after it said the presentation would no longer be used last week.
“We urge the Army to immediately issue a correction to all service members who…
