"Magnificent 7" conservative Senators demand Hands Off of Assault on Air Force Colonel's Religious Beliefs
Fox News Reports:
A group of prominent U.S. senators is coming to the defense of a highly decorated Air Force colonel who could be booted out of the military over his religious views on same-sex marriage.
Col. Leland Bohannon, an experienced combat pilot, was suspended from command and orders were handed down recommending he not be promoted after he refused to publicly affirm the same-sex spouse of a retiring subordinate.
Bohannon, who was on the verge of being promoted to a one-star general, was punished after the subordinate filed a formal Equal Opportunity complaint which was later substantiated by investigators.
"His career is likely over and he will likely have to retire as a colonel instead of as a general," First Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry said on the "Todd Starnes Show."
First Liberty Institute, one of the nation's most prominent religious liberty law firms, is representing the distinguished military officer.
"The military is no longer a place of diversity and inclusion if you are a person who holds to a traditional belief in marriage," Berry said.
At least eight Republican U.S. senators - including Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, John Kennedy of Louisiana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Mike Lee of Utah, Marco Rubio of Florida, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Ted Cruz of Texas - wrote a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson urging her to intervene and save the colonel's career.