What you need to know about the scandals at the California National Guard
Since early 2019, The Times has investigated a wide range of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officials of the California National Guard. The paper’s inquiries began with reports that someone urinated in a female Guard member’s boots, an incident that led to allegations of a cover-up and retaliation against whistleblowers. Among the other disclosures by The Times were the Guard’s use of a spy plane to monitor civilian protesters and fears in the ranks that it planned to deploy a fighter jet to frighten demonstrators.
The retirement of Maj. Gen. David Baldwin comes weeks after a Times investigation detailed alleged misconduct among high-ranking officers.
A recent spate of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officers underscores the need for reform in California’s National Guard, current and former Guard members say.
A general forced out as head of the California Air National Guard two weeks ago says the state Guard commander has ‘lost touch with reality.’
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An F-15C air-to-air combat jet was placed on alert in case of unrest over the pandemic or election, sources and records say. The Guard denies it.
The Guard reconnaissance aircraft flew over peaceful protests in the upscale community of El Dorado Hills, the location of Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin’s home.
Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found.
The head of the California Air National Guard and one of its five wing commanders have been removed from their positions amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization, officials announced Friday.
A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno.
