Collins Caught “Violating Defense Policy” In Ads

Veterans call out Collins after dozens of violations of DoD protocol, improperly using photos of himself in uniform in campaign ads without a disclaimer

ATLANTA — A new report reveals that Congressman Doug Collins “has violated Department of Defense policy at least two dozen times in recent days by improperly using photos of himself wearing his military uniform in campaign ads,” earning stinging rebukes from veterans for his actions.

Collins — who was previously caught improperly using House floor footage in campaign ads and copying language from his congressional website for his campaign — violated official Department of Defense (DoD) guidance which “states that uniform images may only be used if they are not the primary photo in an ad and must include a ‘prominent and clearly displayed disclaimer.’” Yet Collins has repeatedly used uniform images as the primary photo in ads and lacks the needed disclaimer in “the vast majority of his campaign ads,” leading to violations that are “punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”

Collins’ actions have also “caught the attention of veterans and veteran groups” who have charged that the ads are “exploitative,” “deplorable” and “flagrant” violations. One veteran leader even claimed that “senior members of [Defense Secretary Mark] Esper’s staff” have complained about these violations of DoD policy by Collins.

Read more about “Collins’ violation of DoD policy” in campaign ads:

Newsweek: Republican Violating Defense Policy with Military Uniform in Campaign Ads Infuriates Veterans

• Representative Doug Collins, a Georgia Republican who is locked in a contentious intraparty battle for the Senate, has violated Department of Defense policy at least two dozen times in recent days by improperly using photos of himself wearing his military uniform in campaign ads.

• The move has enraged veterans and advocacy groups, who want Collins—a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves—formally reprimanded for the inappropriate ads consistently posted on social media platforms.

• “It’s a flagrant violation of the military criminal code, and he should be visibly and aggressively punished,” MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein told Newsweek. “It’s deplorable, it’s despicable, it is hideous and wretched.”

• DoD Directive 1344.10, the official guidance for uniforms and political campaigning, states that uniform images may only be used if they are not the primary photo in an ad and must include a “prominent and clearly displayed disclaimer.”

• In the past five days, Collins has issued 24 separate campaign tweets and Facebook posts that violate the DoD policy.

• Since Collins is still an active reservist, the violations are punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

• Weinstein sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday calling on the department to immediately impose criminal charges and court-martial Collins. Senior members of Esper’s staff, as well as admirals, generals, senior executive service level civilians and military chaplains, have come to Weinstein outraged, he said.

• Collins rarely provides the proper disclaimer in ads that feature him in uniform, such as in an ad pinned to the top of his Twitter and Facebook accounts. However, the vast majority of his campaign ads do not, which have persisted for some time.

• Collins’ violation of DoD policy has caught the attention of veterans and veteran groups, who are demanding that the Senate candidate either properly use his uniform images or cease including them in ads altogether.

• Retired Army officer Fred Wellman, who is a senior advisor for Veterans Affairs at the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, labeled Collins’ repeated DoD violations as “the most egregious example” he’s ever seen of a political candidate “using his military service and uniform in his ads and campaign materials.”

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