Investigation into ousting of Space Force Commander who said Critical Race Theory was Marxist is elevated to the Air Force Inspector General

 A former Space Force commander who was relieved from his post over comments he made about Marxism and Critical Race Theory is to have his case reviewed by the Air Force Inspector General.

Lt Col. Matthew Lohmier had been the commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, when he spoke about the rise of Marxism and Critical Race Theory in the armed forces on an episode of the 'Information Operation' podcast.

The military is now investigating whether the comments were partisan.

'The decision was made by the Department of the Air Force Inspector General due to the complexity and sensitivity of the issues under consideration, as well as potential for DAF-wide impact,' Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in the announcement. 

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Lt Col. Matthew Lohmier who was relieved from his post over comments he made about Marxism and Critical Race Theory is to have his case reviewed by the Air Force Inspector General

Lohmier said that the teachings are anti-American and that comments were not meant to be partisan, but to call out extremism in the armed forces. 

This new review by Inspector General Air Force Lt. Gen. Sami D. Said, replaces the command-level investigation, which was being overseen by Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of Space Operations Command reports Fox News.

Whiting removed Lohmeier last week over a loss of confidence in his ability to lead after Lohmeier made public comments.

Meanwhile, he has been reassigned into a non-leadership role at Buckley. 

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Lt Col. Matthew Lohmier told Fox News on Monday that he was being 'misportrayed' online and did not intend to be partisan when he made comments about Marxism on a podcast 

Lohmeier said on the podcast: 'The diversity, inclusion and equity industry and the trainings we are receiving in the military...is rooted in critical race theory, which is rooted in Marxism. 

'Since taking command as a commander about 10 months ago, I saw what I consider fundamentally incompatible and competing narratives of what America was, is and should be.

'That wasn't just prolific in social media, or throughout the country during this past year, but it was spreading throughout the United States military. And I had recognized those narratives as being Marxist in nature.' 

He described the the New York Times 1619 Project as 'anti-American', adding: 'It teaches intensive teaching that I heard at my base - that at the time the country ratified the United States Constitution, it codified white supremacy as the law of the land.

'If you want to disagree with that, then you start (being) labeled all manner of things including racist.' 

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Dan Crenshaw is leading the Republican's defense of 'hero' Space Force commander  Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier who was fired for calling CRT Marxist, amid concerns the Pentagon is trying to purge Conservatives 

 'I'm being misportrayed online,' Lt Col. Matthew Lohmier told Fox News on Monday. 'I don't criticize any leader or any person in the [Department of Defense] or any elected officials —  but I try to tee up ideas that I think are toxic.' 

'I don't believe I was being partisan,' he said. 'It is not politically partisan to expose or attack Critical Race Theory or Marxism.

'The reason I say this is because Critical Race Theory and Marxism are antithetical to American values,' he continued, adding that the Critical Race Theory 'fuels narratives that attack America's founding documents.' 

He later told Sean Hannity that he received 'thousands' of letters from his military members who said they felt they've 'lost their voice' as these ideas spread throughout the military.

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Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier appeared on a podcast to promote his new self published book, pictured, when he made the comments which led to a 'loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead', according to a statement from the Space Force

The comments led to a 'loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead', according to a statement from the Space Force, and he was relieved of his position last Friday.

A Space Force spokesperson told The Military Times: 'This decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier in a recent podcast.  

Republican lawmakers have since slammed the dismissal of Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier who was fired as a Space Force commander for saying critical race theory is 'rooted in Marxism'.

Lohmeier was dismissed from his role as a commander of 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base Colorado last Friday over critical comments he made 'fundamentally incompatible and competing narratives' within the military ranks.

Congressman Dan Crenshaw of Texas, a former Navy Seal who lost an eye in combat in Afghanistan, condemned Lohmeier's removal. 

'We need to be preparing our warriors to fight and win battles, not how to be (social justice warriors),' he wrote. 

'Far left critical race theory is taught while speaking out against MARXISM is punished??'

A fellow Texan, Senator Ted Cruz, called the move 'troubling'.

Rep. Andy Biggs, of Arizona, said Lohmeier was a 'hero,' adding the US military 'should be preparing to win battles - not being brainwashed with Marxist ideals'.

And Dan Bishop, of North Carolina, wrote on Twitter: 'Lt. Col. Lohmeier is correct. CRT is a neo-Marxist ideology. He was punished for telling the truth. We need to fight this with everything we have.' 

Lohmeier made the comments on a podcast to promote his new self-published book Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military. 

'We need to be preparing our warriors to fight and win battles, not how to be SJWs,' wrote Dan Crenshaw. 'Far left critical race theory is taught while speaking out against MARXISM is punished??'

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Senator Ted Cruz, called the move to remove Lohmeier from his commander role  'troubling'

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Dan Bishop wrote: 'Lt. Col. Lohmeier is correct. CRT is a neo-Marxist ideology. He was punished for telling the truth. We need to fight this with everything we have'

Several more Republican Members of Congress said they were determined to keep Lohmeier's case in the public spotlight.  

Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, said: 'The Pentagon promotes partisan books on its reading list, then fires people for criticizing the same far-left ideology.

'There's a different set of rules for those on the right.'   

Rep. Byron Donalds, of Florida, said Lohmeier was a 'hero' for standing up to the 'leftist mob' which was trying to cancel him.

'Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier is a hero, not only for putting on the uniform every day to defend our nation but also to defend the freedoms of the leftist mob attempting to cancel him,' Donalds wrote on Twitter. 

'[Critical race theory] should have no place in our classrooms, Armed Forces, or country as a whole.'

Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado said the teaching critical race theory was racist and divisive.

'Critical race theory is counterproductive to the very cause it champions.

'It emphasizes stereotypes and perpetuates prejudices by focusing on our differences instead of what unities us.

'It is racist, divisive, anti-American, and has no place in our schools or military.'

While Rep Mike Waltz posted on Twitter: 'You cannot allow seminars at West Point that share anti-policing messaging while also relieving a soldier who shared anti-Marxism messages.' 

Rep. Byron Donalds, of Florida, said Lohmeier was a 'hero' for standing up to the 'leftist mob' which was trying to cancel him.

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'The Pentagon promotes partisan books on its reading list, then fires people for criticizing the same far-left ideology,' wrote Jim Banks of Indiana

Lohmeier, a former fighter pilot received a Thanksgiving call from President Donald Trump in November of last year after joining the Space Force the previous month. 

Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, the head of Space Operations Command, is understood have removed him from his role Friday. 

Lohmeier told The Washington Examiner: 'What you see happening in the U.S. military at the moment is that if you're a conservative, then you're lumped into a group of people who are labeled extremists, if you're willing to voice your views. 

'And if you're aligned with the Left, then it's OK to be an activist online because no one's gonna hold you accountable.'

He said active service members have written to thank him for his comments 'because we don't have a voice anymore'. 

A Space Force spokesman told The Washington Examiner: 'Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14, due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead.'

Members of the military are allowed to express their personal opinions when not in uniform but are prohibited from 'partisan political activity'.   

Critical race theory claims to highlight how historical inequities and racism continue to shape public policy and social conditions today. 

Those who are against it say people are being indoctrinated into thinking that white people are inherently racist and that it reduces people to the categories of 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color. 

The issue has become one of the frontline skirmishes in the country's culture wars in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests. 

Lohmeier had said of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's diversity and inclusion program: 'I don't demonize the man, but I want to make it clear to both him and every service member this agenda — it will divide us. It will not unify us.'

Austin in February ordered military leaders to spend time talking to their troops about extremism in the ranks.

Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said then that while extremism has been a problem in the military in the past, the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead, was a 'wake-up call' for military leaders. He said that Austin wants to get a better handle on the breadth of the problem. 

Lohmeier's book Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military looks at the 'impact of a neo-Marxist agenda' on American security. 

He has said he discussed the book with his superiors prior to writing it.  

In an email to The Military Times Lohmeier said: 'My intent never has been to engage in partisan politics.

 'I have written a book about a particular political ideology (Marxism) in the hope that our Defense Department might return to being politically non-partisan in the future as it has honorably done throughout history.' 

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Members of the military are allowed to express their personal opinions when not in uniform but are prohibited from 'partisan political activity'