Army asks for mercy from clemency callers

Dr. Terrence Lakin

Army public affairs officer Lt. Col. Rob Manning today asked WND readers appealing for clemency for imprisoned "birther" Dr. Terrence Lakin to send their pleas to Lakin's defense counsel, not to the officer with authority to free Lakin, Maj. Gen. Karl Horst.

"We're getting a lot of calls," said Manning, the director of public affairs for the Joint Force Headquarters, National Capital Region.

Manning emphasized clemency requests should be sent to Maj. Matthew Kemkes, Lakin's defense counsel. Kemkes' e-mail address is [email protected]

Manning declined to estimate how many calls he and his secretary had answered.

"I don't know, but it's been quite a few," said Manning.

Lakin backer Margaret Hemenway told WND yesterday that the Army had received 300 calls by 12:30 p.m., even before Manning's phone number appeared on WND.

Yesterday, WND published Manning's phone number so readers could send messages through him to Maj. Gen. Horst, the commanding general of forces in the Washington, D.C., region and the convening authority over Lakin's court martial. Horst can approve Lakin's sentence, reduce it or order him released.

"I love talking to the American people, but I can't formalize anything," Manning explained. "If they really want to make an impact, it's got to go through the defense attorney. That's the law."

"It's the process," Manning continued. "The real person to contact concerning clemency is Maj. Kemkes."

According to Manning, Kemkes will include requests from the public to release Lakin when he files his formal appeal for clemency with Maj. Gen. Horst.

Lakin was sentenced Thursday to six months confinement, forfeiture of pay and allowances, and dismissal from the service for disobeying orders as a ploy to force the Army to court-martial him.

The former lieutenant colonel intended to use the pre-trial "discovery" process to obtain documents that would determine whether orders handed down by President Obama, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, are legally valid.

Lakin hoped to force Obama to produce identity documents, such as his birth certificate, that would answer conclusively whether Obama is a "natural-born citizen," the constitutional requirement any American must meet to serve as president of the United States.

The court martial judge, Col. Denise Lind, refused to give Lakin discovery. She also refused to allow his defense to introduce evidence and experts who could explain the constitutional issues involved in the case or discuss when a soldier's duty requires him to disobey orders.

Obama has steadfastly refused to produce the 1961 copy of his birth certificate, his adoption records, passport records, travel records, school records and many other papers that would document his identity. His eligibility to serve as president remains unproven, so his authority as commander-in-chief is open to question.

Lakin supporters have established a fund to support Lakin's legal defense and provide for the needs of his wife and children while he is incarcerated at Fort Leavenworth.

Financial contributions should be sent to the Terry Lakin Action Fund, the only fund authorized by Lakin's family. Donate online at Terrylakinactionfund.com using any major credit card, or mail checks made payable to the Terry Lakin Action Fund, PO Box 1116, Bel Air, MD 21014.

Cards and letters, but no packages, can be sent to Lakin at the following address, and should not mention rank: Terrence Lakin #89996, 830 Sabalu Road, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027.