Responding to a wave of social media criticism over accusations that the Navy plans to bring charges against an officer who fired a gun during the terrorist attack on a Tennessee Navy operations center in July, the Navy on Monday said the stories aren’t true.
And if public opinion is any guide, they better stay that way.
“Stories of Navy personnel being charged with an offense are not true,” a Navy statement said. “There is still a long way to go in reviewing the facts of this tragic incident, but at this time we can confirm no service member has been charged with an offense.”
The story about charges being brought against Navy Lt. Cmdr. Timothy White – for carrying an unauthorized firearm he used to shoot back at gunman Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez during the July 16 attack – took on a life of their own when former Congressman Allen West posted a column Friday claiming he had received a text message from a source he didn’t identify confirming that charges were in the offing.
Four Marines and a Navy sailor were killed in two attacks that day on a military recruitment center and the Navy operations center in Chattaooga. The terrorist was also killed.
“White exemplifies the highest and finest of character and tradition of the US Navy,” West wrote in the column. “Those who would bring charges against him are indeed cowards and need be exposed.”
While that’s no doubt true, the reaction to the story seems to have gotten ahead of the facts in the case.
Here’s a sample of what the rumors inspired.
Rumor has it the Navy is planning to charge #LtWhite for defending himself & others – #LtWhite is the one wearing the white hat! Support him
— Tierrah (@Tierrah46) August 3, 2015
@Tierrah46 Outrageous!
— Diana Summers (@ladydshops) August 3, 2015
?? Is The Navy Going To Charge The Sailor Who Shot Back At The Chattanooga Terrorist? http://t.co/CFkZWpRX3H
— All American Girl (@AIIAmericanGirI) August 3, 2015
If true, UN-FREAKING-REAL http://t.co/gIenH3oovT
— Jason Mattera (@JasonMattera) August 3, 2015
If true, it would be un-freaking real.
For Lt. Cmdr. White’s sake, for the Navy’s sake — for the country’s sake — it better not be.
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