In the Media: News Articles
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Task & Purpose
Patty Nieberg, Jul 9, 2025
Army lays out policy to search deceased soldiers’ phones for classified info
Gary Barthel, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and a civilian lawyer who has represented troops in military and civil legal cases said the policy acts as a force protection measure to prevent sensitive military information disclosures.
Snoopes
Megan Loe, June 17, 2025
Unpacking claims that VA doctors can deny care to Democrats, unmarried veterans
“The changes are not likely to have any impact on a nonmarried or Democratic veteran from receiving care and if a care provider refused to provide care because of a veteran’s political affiliation or marital status, they likely would be disciplined for doing so and could lose their license to practice.”
Military.com
Drew F. Lawrence and Konstantin Toropin, June 11, 2025
Marines Authorized to Temporarily Detain Protesters in LA, Raising Legal Concerns
Active-duty Marines deployed to the Los Angeles area to protect federal buildings and personnel amid protests there are authorized to temporarily detain people “if threatened” or “otherwise harassed” before turning them over to civilian law enforcement, according to two defense officials.
LAist
Robert Garrova, June 12, 2025
How veterans are reacting to Marine deployment in LA: ‘The impact is so negative’
“In my professional opinion, this is not a situation that warrants calling in active-duty Marines,” Gary Barthel, a retired lieutenant colonel who served 20 years with the U.S. Marine Corps, told LAist. Barthel is also managing partner of the Military Law Center in San Diego.
ABC Australia
Annika Burgess, June 10, 2025
Former military officers raise concerns about 700 Marines deployed to LA protests
Former US Marine Corps officer Gary Barthel, managing partner of the Military Law Center in California, said it was unusual to send the Marines when a situation had not been officially deemed an insurrection.
Daily Caller
Katelynn Richardson, September 21, 2024
Marine Recruiter Who Wrote ‘Memoir’ About Teenage Recruit Sentenced to Prison
“That’s what kind of adds to the problem,” Barthel said. “You’ve got commanding officers who are not attorneys or prosecutors, who are trying to make decisions on cases like this,” unlike the civilian sector with authorities such as a district attorney.
DAILY CALLER
Katelynn Richardson, September 21, 2024
‘Too Late In The Game’: Defense Secretary’s Last-Minute Decision To Toss 9/11 Plea Deal Likely To Be Rejected By Judge
Once the convening authority approves an agreement worked out by the parties, it is generally considered a “done deal.” Austin could have withheld the case from her authority earlier and brought it to his level to handle issues himself, Barthel said, but instead he just “issued an edict that said these plea agreements are improper.”
GBH News
Saraya Wintersmith, May 15, 2024
Pentagon leaker Teixeira could face new military charges after Tuesday hearing
“The command[ing officer] is free to charge him with other offenses that he was not charged with in federal district court,” said Gary Barthel, an attorney and founder of the Military Law Center, a firm that specializes in military cases.
GBH News
Saraya Wintersmith, May 13, 2024
Military to weigh additional charges against Jack Teixeira Tuesday
“Obviously, the civilian courts cannot award [a dishonorable discharge] and that effectively would ban him from ever re-enlisting or joining the military again,” Barthel explained. The punitive action would also bar him from possessing a gun.
NBC7 San Diego
Jeanette Quezada, March 14, 2024
San Diego Navy sailor accused of espionage faces new charges
“Any time that a U.S. attorney’s office wants to add an additional charge or charges in a specific case, they have to get a superseding indictment to do that and so I anticipate that they will be additional charges filed in this case.” Lt. Barthel said.
Task & Purpose
Jeff Schogol, November 15th, 2023
Marine faces court-martial after 14-year-old girl found in his room
If Rosario’s defense can persuade a judge or military panel that he had a reasonable belief that the girl was the legal age of consent, then Rosario could be found not guilty of the sexual assault charges, Barthel told Task & Purpose on Wednesday.
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Andrew Dyer, Sep 24, 2022
Navy Prosecutors Say Circumstantial Evidence Enough
Barthel said he thought it odd prosecutors only called one NCIS agent — one who left the case early in October 2020 — and not the co-supervising agent. Barthel said that agent was involved in NCIS’ monthslong pursuit of another suspect they eventually cleared, and that alternative theory will be a big part of Mays’ defense.
Task & Purpose
Marty Graham, October 14, 2022
What if the Sailor charged in the Bonhomme Richard fire was actually a minor hero?
“Like many sailors, Seaman Mays spent the first day of the fire doing what he could to support Fed Fire,” Barthel said, referring to Federal Fire & Emergency Services which initially responded. Mays and shipmates returned every day until the fire was out to support firefighting efforts.
NBC7 San Diego
Jackie Crea, September 28, 2022
DAY 8: Bonhomme Richard Arson Case Testimony Ends; Focus on Former Sailor McGovern
The prosecution then brought electrical engineer Michael Abraham, who testified about his analysis of damaged forklift batteries found on site, as not the cause of the fire. The defense refuted this claim. Mays’ former attorney, Gary Barthel, who’s not involved in this part of the case, summarized each legal team’s plan of action.
ABC10 News San Diego
Natay Holmes and Michael Chen, September 27, 2022
Defense rests in U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard trial, prosecution to begin its case
The defense rested on the second day of the trial of the navy sailor accused of starting fire aboard the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard.
CBS8 San Diego
Kelly Hessedal, September 26, 2022
Defense team begins presenting its case in USS Bonhomme Richard trial
Monday, the defense team called MA1 Jonathan Cannon to the stand. He testified he also helped transport Mays to the brig, but said he did not hear any confession from him.
CBS8 News San Diego
CBS8, September 20, 2022
Day two of trial set for Navy sailor accused in USS Bonhomme Richard arson in San Diego
Ryan Sawyer Mays, 21, faces charges of arson and willful hazarding of a vessel for allegedly setting the blaze that began July 12, 2020, and burned for several days.
KPBS
Steve Walsh, March 10, 2022
Navy arson court martial moves forward
“She does not believe that the evidence supports the case going to trial because she does not believe the government will be able to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Gary Barthel, the attorney who represented Mays during hearings in December.
NBC NEWS SAN DIEGO
Bill Feather, February 25, 2022
Charges Upheld, Seaman Accused In Uss Bonhomme Richard Fire To Face Court-Martial
“Seaman Mays is disheartened that the same Navy Leadership that appointed Capt Tang to preside over the preliminary hearing, has decided to disregard her recommendation that the case NOT proceed to trial and instead has made the decision to move forward with a trial in his case,” Barthel wrote in a statement shared with NBC 7.
Navy Times
Geoff ZieZulewicz, February 25, 2022
Sailor accused of torching USS Bonhomme Richard will go to court-martial, Navy decides
According to Barthel, Capt. Angela Tang, the legal officer who presided over December’s preliminary hearing and heard evidence in the case, recommended to Koehler that the case not go to court-martial.
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