In yet another dramatic turn of events, the Biden White House finds itself entangled in a scandal involving the California National Guard and high-ranking officer Col. Lisa Nemeth. The controversy erupted following an investigation into Nemeth’s conduct, revealing a web of misconduct that includes mishandling a drunk-driving incident and allowing her pet Dalmatian to disrupt military operations.
The investigation, initially conducted by the California Guard’s inspectors general, unveiled a troubling pattern of behavior. Reports surfaced about Nemeth’s dog making a mess in a military building. More damning, however, were allegations related to her handling of another officer’s drunk-driving crash. According to the Los Angeles Times, the inspectors general carried out extensive interviews and reviewed financial records, concluding that Nemeth had engaged in conduct unbecoming an officer. This conclusion, reached behind closed doors in 2022, threatened Nemeth’s promotion to general.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn following a phone call from then-Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, director of the Air National Guard. Loh urged Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, then head of the California Military Department, to dismiss the findings and bring in an outsider to redo the investigation—with a specific suggestion that a woman should conduct this new inquiry. Despite the original principal investigator being a woman, Loh’s request was met with resistance from Baldwin, igniting a cold war between the California Military Department, the National Guard Bureau, and the Air Force.
Tensions escalated when the Air Force inspector general overturned the California findings without further investigation, clearing Nemeth of any wrongdoing. This move, described by California officials as based on “flimsy logic,” has sparked outrage within the California Guard. Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, Baldwin’s successor, expressed his disbelief and frustration in a memo to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin. Beevers criticized the superficial dismissal of substantiated allegations, calling it a defiance of military discipline and order.
The original investigation had implicated Nemeth in multiple serious misconducts, including using subordinates for personal tasks and mismanaging a critical firefighting program. Yet, after a prolonged investigation spanning more than two years, the Air Force IG deemed the evidence insufficient, reversing all findings against Nemeth.
This scandal throws a spotlight on the Biden administration’s handling of military affairs and raises questions about transparency and accountability within the highest echelons of power. As the story unfolds, it challenges the mainstream narrative of discipline and order within the U.S. military, prompting a debate about the integrity of investigations and the influence of top officials in safeguarding their own.
The Biden White House now faces intense scrutiny, with the public and military officials watching closely. The unfolding drama not only tarnishes the reputation of those involved but also casts a shadow over the administration’s commitment to uphold justice and accountability in its ranks.