[Breitbart] The West Point mentor of a soldier now under investigation by the Army for engaging in political activity while in uniform is on administrative leave, Breitbart News has learned.
The adviser is Rasheed Hosein, a professor of Middle East history, who was in charge of Second Lieutenant Spenser Rapone’s development at West Point.
A West Point spokesman confirmed he is on administrative leave but said it is unrelated to Rapone.
“We are unable to provide information regarding administrative actions but can confirm that the details are unrelated to 2nd Lieutenant Rapone,” the spokesman said.
At West Point, Hosein had mentored Rapone. The two apparently traveled together to India together in 2014 and maintained a close relationship until Rapone graduated in May 2016.
Also during that time, Rapone’s Facebook posts grew increasingly radical and leftist.
The Army confirmed that Rapone graduated from West Point in 2016 and is now serving as a second lieutenant with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, New York.
The unit issued its own statement that focused on uniform regulations.
“Both the Department of Defense and the Army have longstanding policies encouraging soldiers to participate in the democratic process. However, the Army has strict rules regarding the wear and appearance of Army uniforms.”
Rapone’s activism while in uniform appears to be much broader than those two photos.
On August 7, Rapone posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself in his Army uniform wearing a Democratic Socialists of America Membership nametag that says, “official socialist organizer.”
Rapone’s Instagram account was taken down Tuesday evening.
Sometime last year, he posted a picture on Instagram of an Antifa flag in his room next to a print of Che Guevara. “New room decor … until it’s flying proudly in the streets. #AntiFa,” he wrote, according to a picture obtained before he took down his account.
A review of Rapone’s Facebook page shows that over time, since 2014, his posts became increasingly anti-racism, anti-Israel, pro-Muslim, pro-Communist, anti-military, and anti-police.
On January 5, 2015, he posted a Slate.com article calling for the abolishment of West Point. As a Facebook friend since 2014, Hosein would have been aware of Rapone’s Facebook postings between 2014 and when he graduated in 2016. A search of Rapone’s page shows they are still Facebook friends.
Hosein’s bio on the West Point website lists Rapone as one of two cadets he last advised at West Point.
Hosein began teaching at West Point in July 2011. Previously, he served as the director of Public Education for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago.
He was also Muslim Lay Chaplain at West Point, Officer in Charge of the Muslim Cadet Association, and Emeritus Facility Adviser of Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society of which Rapone was a member, according to a photo.
Twitter: Commie @ West Point Spenser Rapone had Reddit account
10th Mountain Division To ‘Communism Will Win’ Graduate: While In Uniform, You Put Politics Aside
[TOWNHALL] So, Second Lt. Spenser Rapone surely got his 15 minutes of fame, with his tweets of support to Colin Kaepernick in the wake of the national anthem controversy that’s engulfing the National Football League. Kaepernick launched the first salvo of this leftist theater by taking a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner last year. Last week, President Trump slammed those players who took a knee during the national anthem. The firestorm has begun. Well, at West Point, Rapone tweeted “#VeteransforKaepernick” with him in uniform holding his officer’s cap with “communism will win” inscribed on the inside. He also tweeted another photo of himself revealing a Che Guevara t-shirt under his uniform.
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