West Point Accused of Selective Censorship and Federal Law Violation

Tony Lentini, a 1971 West Point graduate and founding board member of the MacArthur Society of West Point Graduates, has raised concerns about selective censorship and violation of federal law at West Point. According to a report carried by Military.com, a West Point cadet is facing charges for sexual harassment and assault. The report named not only this cadet, but also another cadet charged with sexual misconduct, an officer faculty member facing conduct-related charges, and the garrison commander who was acquitted of impaired driving charges.

Non-Disclosure of Investigations and Charges

However, when Robert S. Caslen, the then-Superintendent, promised an investigation into why West Point allowed Spenser Rapone, a cadet known for his communist beliefs, to graduate in 2016, the Army declined to release its findings. The Army cited the need to protect Rapone’s privacy as the reason, despite his public display of Marxist political sympathies. The investigation, which was never delivered, was meant to assess Caslen’s leadership in allowing Rapone to graduate. Caslen later resigned from his post-West-Point civilian job as president of the University of South Carolina over allegations of plagiarizing parts of a speech.

Unresolved Cases

In another instance, the outcome of several cadets who overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl during Spring Break two years ago has never been publicly released, once again citing privacy grounds. Lentini has a pending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to determine the final disposition of these cadets. This request has been pending for over a year, despite federal law requiring a response within 20 working days. West Point’s public affairs officer cited privacy laws as the reason for the Academy’s stonewalling, even though Lentini specifically did not ask for their names, only their punishment.

Accusations of Selective Disclosure

Lentini has questioned the practices at West Point and within the military, asking why some names are released while others are not. He has also questioned why allegations of sexual misconduct and related court filings are publicly disseminated, while cadet drug abuse and West Point administrative failures are covered up. His FOIA request is now with the “Initial Denial Authority” office of the Secretary of the Army at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Despite repeated calls and emails to expedite the release of information regarding the cocaine-fentanyl cadets’ final disposition, he has received no response.

West Point's Accountability

Lentini has criticized West Point for being a federally funded institution that appears to selectively obey federal laws. He has questioned why they are allowed to ignore legitimate taxpayer requests for information and why there is a disparity in releasing names in sexual assault cases but not in drug cases and administrative failures. He has called for transparency, asking what West Point is hiding and why, and when these officials will be held accountable. He has also called for the once proud and honorable institution to finally come clean.

Bottom Line

The allegations raised by Lentini are serious and warrant further investigation. The selective release of information and apparent disregard for federal law raise questions about transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law at West Point. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this article with your friends and let's continue the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.