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Hawaii News

Army doctor is charged after refusing to deploy

An Army doctor who served in Hawaii from 1999 to 2005 has been charged with refusing to deploy to Afghanistan because he questions whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States.

Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin said the order would not be legitimate if Obama did not meet the requirement that U.S. presidents be born on American soil.

Lakin is scheduled to be arraigned today at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Hawaii officials have repeatedly said they have records proving Obama was born in Honolulu, but the so-called "birther" movement continues to challenge that.

Lakin did not report to Fort Campbell, Ky., in April to prepare for deployment.

The Greeley, Colo., native said in a YouTube video that he chose to disobey orders.

The Army said Lakin is being arraigned on three counts of disobeying a lawful order, one count of missing movement and dereliction of duty.

The American Patriot Foundation said it is providing a civilian lawyer to defend Lakin and that he also would be represented by military counsel.

If convicted, he faces up to four years in a federal penitentiary, the foundation said.

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