The following information related to the case of U.S. Army Sergeant Derrick Miller is currently sitting on the desk of President Donald J. Trump for consideration to invoke his statutory powers under 10 U.S. Code Sections 822 and 860 to disapprove the findings and the sentence or provide a full and unconditional pardon.
Sergeant Derrick Miller protected his unit in Afghanistan, acted in self-defense, yet was found guilty of “premeditated murder” and sentenced him to life in prison in spite of the following facts:
- He pled NOT GUILTY.
- There was NO HARD EVIDENCE to support the allegations, only coerced testimony.
- Miller identified a Taliban scout within friendly lines, interrogated him, and, when the Taliban grabbed for Miller’s weapon, Miller fired in self-defense and killed him.
- Miller’s interpreter observed the incident and initially corroborated Miller’s accounting of the situation. However, the interpreter made a contradictory statement after, it is believed, investigators agreed to help him gain asylum and U.S. citizenship.
- Another Soldier also observed the incident and initially corroborated Miller’s accounting of the situation. However, the Soldier later changed his story after investigators threatened to charge him as an accomplice and keep him on active duty which would necessitate him canceling his planned honeymoon with his wife.
BACKGROUND
Miller, a man of stellar character with two young daughters, is a highly decorated Citizen-Soldier who volunteered for combat deployments and served honorably. Fellow Soldiers described him as an “outstanding Soldier,” “top 5 percentile of NCOs,” “peaceful,” “calm,” and the “moral compass.” Miller is now a Congressional Staff Member for Rep Gohmert (R-TX).
SITUATION
While in Afghanistan, surrounded by Taliban, Miller’s unit was briefed to expect Taliban disguised as civilians infiltrating their lines to better target attacks. On September 26, 2010, a U.S. Soldier notified Miller that Alta Mohammed had infiltrated their camp – someone the Soldier and Miller recognized, with “100%” certainty, from the day before when Mohammed was detained on suspicion of transporting weapons and enemy combatants.
Concerned for American lives, Miller requested and was granted permission, to question Mohammed, which Miller did, in an open area with an Afghan interpreter and the other Soldier present. Mohammed claimed he was an electrician, then a plumber – but he wasn’t carrying any tools; he couldn’t drive – but was carrying car keys; and couldn’t identify where he lived. The more Mohammed spoke, the more Miller grew suspicious.
Mohammad was with two companions who left him behind, and his cover story was falling apart. The interpreter observed Mohammed grow irate and attempt to grab Miller’s pistol. Miller shot and killed Mohammed.
Less than an hour later, as anticipated, Miller’s unit came under well-aimed enemy fire, which obviously benefited from the enemy’s reconnaissance of the unit’s leaders’ locations, vehicles, and defensive positions. However, because of Miller’s actions, the unit was on full alert, able to respond, and no American lives were lost.
Despite a lack of a thorough investigation at the scene, NO AUTOPSY OR EVEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BODY, Miller was found guilty of “premeditated murder” based solely on the testimony of an interpreter the Army helped get asylum and American citizenship, and one scared Soldier who initially stated, in a sworn statement on the day of the incident, Miller shot the Taliban during a “struggle” during which the suspect was “swinging his arms” at Miller. However, after investigators threatened him with being charged as an accessory, he changed his story during the trial.
STATUS OF CASE
April 2018, with the help of UAP, Miller’s life-sentence was reduced to 20-years via a clemency hearing, Feb 2019, UAP supported Miller gaining his freedom at a Parole hearing, and in May, 2019, Miller was released from prison.
Consistent with the President’s vow to end the “endless war” in Afghanistan and recent negotiations between the US and the Taliban which led to the freeing of thousands of Taliban prisoners, 150 of whom on death row for heinous “war crimes,” —
MILLER IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES INVOKE HIS STATUTORY POWERS UNDER 10 USC SECTIONS 822 AND 860 TO DISAPPROVE THE FINDINGS AND THE SENTENCE OR PROVIDE A FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL PARDON.
