Restoration News has reported on an interview with a former military officer, identified only as "Daniel," who claims he faced retaliation after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds. The article details Daniel's experiences, including repeated polygraph tests, following his departure from the military in 2023.
According to Restoration News, Daniel was a devout Catholic officer with a commendable service record. He applied for a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine, which was denied. His appeal was subsequently rejected by the Surgeon General of his service. Daniel argued that this decision violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which mandates that such appeals be considered at the Deputy Chief of Staff level or higher. Daniel and his attorney concluded that his rights were infringed upon when his case was not reviewed at the appropriate level.
The article further explains that Daniel underwent repeated polygraph tests in 2022, weeks before leaving the military. He described these tests as harassment and noted irregular practices during testing, such as sensor repositioning and unusual questions about terrorism. Despite agreeing to follow-up sessions, he never received official results. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, he later discovered that his results were marked as failures—a designation he disputes due to conflicting recordings.
According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the military have led to widespread legal challenges under RFRA. Courts have scrutinized whether the Department of Defense properly evaluated exemption requests and upheld service members' constitutional rights. CRS reported that these mandates created tension between military readiness policies and individual rights of conscience, echoing concerns raised by Daniel in his case.
Restoration News is described as a project of Restoration of America and identifies itself as a populist-conservative investigative media outlet. Its mission is to provide "fact-based, faithful reporting" aligned with the America First movement, covering topics such as politics, immigration, national security, and cultural issues. The organization aims to challenge mainstream narratives and expose what it describes as "leftist lies."
