Marine Who Gave Bahraini Wife Fake U.S. Entry Papers Leaves Corps
The Marine Corps husband of a Bahraini sheika who used fake military documents to flee to the United States has been discharged from the service at his request.
Officials at Camp Pendleton confirmed Thursday that Pfc. Jason Johnson was granted an administrative discharge last Friday.
Capt. Patricia Restrepo, a base spokeswoman, said Johnson’s request was granted because it was in the “best interest of Johnson and the Marine Corps.”
Johnson met 19-year-old Meriam Al Khalifa last year at a mall in the Bahraini capital of Manama.
As his deployment was ending late last year, he forged U.S. military documents that Al Khalifa used to fly to the United States.
A U.S. immigration judge ruled in July that Al Khalifa must face charges of illegally entering the United States in a case that could cause her to be deported.
Her lawyer has said she plans to apply for political asylum on the grounds that she faces persecution for marrying a non-Muslim if she returns to Bahrain.
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