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Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington – On December 13, a Black Army officer became the first service member convicted under the military’s new sexual harassment law, enacted by Congress in 2021 to strengthen accountability for misconduct.
The case began in October 2023 when Lt. Col. Benjamin West III was accused of harassment by Captain Haleigh Creedon and two other female officers, whose identities remain undisclosed. After an investigation, West was convicted of sexual harassment, maltreatment, and conduct unbecoming of an officer. He received a $92,900 fine and a formal reprimand.
West’s lawyer argued the charges were racially motivated, claiming he was targeted “because he is a Black man.”

West is the nephew of Allen B. West, a former Texas GOP Chair and prominent conservative figure. Notably, Bernard West’s claims of racial bias contrast with Allen West’s frequent criticism of what he calls “the left’s soft bigotry of low expectations,” particularly regarding Black Americans.
Allen West, who also retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, faced his own controversy involving allegations of prisoner mistreatment.

Lt. Col. Bernard West III, who initially faced dismissal and a 15-year prison sentence, was allowed to remain in the Army, though he has expressed plans to leave the service. By avoiding dismissal after completing 20 years of service, West remains eligible for retirement benefits. However, both the prosecution and defense expect that his departure will involve a reduction in rank to major, which could affect the benefits he ultimately receives. Officers dismissed from service typically forfeit all retirement benefits. Typically, an officer dismissed from service forfeits retirement benefits entirely.
During the trial, lead prosecutor Major Ryan Keeter outlined several alleged incidents in which West crossed professional lines. These incidents included requiring a subordinate to engage in physical training solely with him, entering women’s quarters uninvited while they were only in towels, and partially undressing in their presence while on duty. “Step by step, he pushed the boundaries,” Keeter, according to Stars and Stripes.
Jason Wareham, a former military lawyer who represented West, argued that the court-martial was influenced by racial bias. Wareham pointed to other officers accused of similar misconduct—a White female officer and an Asian male officer—who received non-judicial punishments instead of court-martial. “I am convinced that the only reason my client faces general court-martial is because he is a Black man,” Wareham told reporters.
Following the conviction, West spoke directly to the victims, some of whom had stayed anonymous throughout the trial. In his apology, he said, “I saw the joy you had for the military. I apologize for taking that from you. I apologize to your family who had to hold you up, to lift you up, after what I did.”
The victims described the profound impact West’s actions had on their personal and professional lives. One previously anonymous victim shared, “I’ve lost all sense of trust in leaders, and because of that, I don’t think I can be an effective leader in the Army anymore.”
Captain Haleigh Creedon, who chose to reveal her identity in an interview with KOMO News, expressed her thoughts on the outcome. “I personally believe that he should have been dismissed because I don’t think someone like that should be allowed to lead in the Army,” she said. However, she acknowledged the significance of the conviction. “In the sense that he was charged for his actions, the court acknowledged his actions as sexual harassment. I think justice was served.”
West’s conservative uncle Allen B. West also saw his military career end under controversial circumstances.
Allen West came to prominence after admitting to overseeing the beating of an Iraqi police officer and conducting a mock execution of the very same detainee. He resigned from the military with full benefits and a $5,000 fine, later becoming an active leader in the Texas GOP.
Allen West’s politics emphasize individual responsibility and a rejection of identity politics, often framing systemic racism as a challenge largely overcome.
Allen West has criticized liberal social justice movements as a “deadly cancer” and consistently supported Republican candidates, including Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 election cycles. A self-identified Zionist, he remains active in conservative political circles.

After being embraced by a mostly Republican coalition, Allen West was able to use his political connections from his controversial military actions to build a career.
His rise is another example of America undermining its credibility by supporting figures tied to torture. Similarly, the ongoing sexual assault crisis in the U.S. military further damages the nation’s reputation, with rates at catastrophic levels that remain largely unaddressed.
A Department of Defense survey estimated approximately 29,000 assaults in 2023, or 1,425 per 100,000 military personnel. Conversely, an independent study by Brown University suggested the true 2023 number was closer to 73,000 total assaults. That same year, nearly 7% of women and 1.3% of men in the military reported unwanted sexual contact, though some overlap may exist between these numbers.
If either the numbers from the DoD or Brown University are accurate, the risk of sexual assault in the military could be between 10 and 25 times higher than in the worst U.S. cities for rape per capita. This problem is part of a broader, troubling pattern of abuse and exploitation, with veterans disproportionately involved in certain types of sex crimes.
A 2021 report by the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) revealed that veterans in federal prisons are overrepresented in offenses such as Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM) and sexual abuse.
Per the USSC, Veteran offenders commit sexual abuse offenses more than twice as often as civilian offenders—6.7% compared to 2.4%. They are also more likely to be involved in the use of CSAM, at 11.6%, compared to 2.7% for non-veterans. This trend indicates that the culture of abuse within the military extends beyond active service, affecting veterans as well.
The case of Bruce Coval Meneley, a retired U.S. Navy Captain fatally shot last April during an anti-pedophile sting operation outside Seattle, highlights this ongoing issue.
According to the Justice Report, Meneley allegedly believed he was meeting a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old girl for the purpose of sexual abuse. When police attempted to detain Meneley, he appeared to draw a pistol and was subsequently shot dead.