Editing Allen West

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{{Villain_Infobox
|Image = Allen West, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
|fullname = Allen Bernard West
|alias = The Old School Patriot
|origin = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
|occupation = Chairman of the Texas Republican Party (2020 - 2021)<br>U.S. Congressman from Florida (2011 - 2013)
|type of villain = Xenophobic Politician 
|goals = Be elected Governor of Texas (failed)
|crimes = Attempted [[murder]]<br>[[Torture]]<br>[[War crimes]]<br>[[Xenophobia]]<br>[[Homophobia]]<br>[[Transphobia]]<br>[[Anti-Semitism]]<br>[[Islamophobia]]<br>[[Misogyny]]<br>[[Hate Speech]]<br>[[Anti-vaxxers|Vaccine denialism]]
|hobby = }}
{{Quote|If you look at the application for a security clearance, I have a clearance that even the president of the United States cannot obtain because of my background.|Allen West}}
'''Allen Bernard West''' (born February 7, 1961) is an American political commentator, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, author, and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, West represented Florida's 22nd congressional district in the House from 2011 to 2013. He served as the Chairman of the Texas Republican Party from 2020 to 2021. He is currently running for Governor of Texas.

West was deployed to Kuwait in 1991 and Iraq in 2003. In 2003, West was charged in an incident that involved the beating and simulated execution of an Iraqi policeman. After an Article 32 hearing was held, West accepted non-judicial punishment, was fined $5,000, and allowed to retire as a lieutenant colonel.

After leaving the military, West moved to Florida, where he taught at a high school for a year and worked for a defense contractor, part of this time spent in Afghanistan as a civilian adviser to the Afghan National Army. West entered politics in 2008 as the Republican nominee for Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2008, losing to Democratic incumbent Ron Klein. In a re-match in 2010, he won the seat, coinciding with significant Republican gains in the 2010 midterm elections.

West took office in January 2011 as the first African-American Republican member of Congress from Florida since Josiah T. Walls left office in 1876 near the end of Reconstruction. In Congress, West was a high-profile member of the Tea Party Caucus and the Tea Party movement.

Redistricting due to the 2010 census resulted in West switching to Florida's 18th congressional district for the 2012 House elections. He lost to Democratic nominee Patrick Murphy in what was the most expensive congressional race in U.S. history at the time.

==Iraqi torture incident==
While serving in Taji, Iraq, during the [[Iraq War]], West received information from an intelligence specialist about a plot to ambush his unit. The alleged plot involved Yahya Jhodri Hamoodi, an Iraqi police officer. West had his men detain Hamoodi. Soldiers testified that in the process of detaining Hamoodi, he appeared to reach for his weapon and needed to be subdued. Hamoodi was beaten by four soldiers from the 2/20th Field Artillery Battalion on the head and body. West then fired his pistol near Hamoodi's head, after which Hamoodi provided West with names and information, which Hamoodi later described as "meaningless information induced by fear and pain". At least one of these suspects was arrested as a result, but no plans for attacks or weapons were found. West said "At the time I had to base my decision on the intelligence I received. It's possible that I was wrong about Mr. Hamoodi."<ref name=NYT>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/27/world/struggle-for-iraq-interrogations-colonel-risked-his-career-menacing-detainee.html?pagewanted=all The Struggle For Iraq: Interrogations; How Colonel Risked His Career By Menacing Detainee and Lost], ''The New York Times''</ref>

West was charged with violating Articles 128 (assault) and 134 (general article) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. During a hearing held as part of an Article 32 investigation in November 2003, West stated, "I know the method I used was not right, but I wanted to take care of my soldiers." The charges were ultimately referred to an Article 15 proceeding rather than court-martial, at which West was fined $5,000. West accepted the judgment and retired with full benefits as a lieutenant colonel in the summer of 2004.<ref>[http://articles.cnn.com/2003-12-12/us/sprj.nirq.west.ruling_1_allen-west-iraqi-detainee-military-justice?_s=PM:US U.S. Officer Fined for Harsh Interrogation Tactics], ''CNN''</ref> Asked if he would act differently under similar circumstances, West testified, "If it's about the lives of my soldiers at stake, I'd go through hell with a gasoline can." At his hearing, West said that there were no ambushes against American forces in Taji until he was relieved of his leadership post a month later. After West's retirement he received more than 2,000 letters and e-mails offering him moral support. A letter supporting West was signed by 95 members of the U.S. Congress and sent to the Secretary of the Army.<ref name=NYT/>

==Other controversies==
*West has ties to the [[Outlaw Motorcycle Club]] and has spoken at several of their events.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210630182540/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2010-10-18-sfl-allen-west-outlaws-motorcycle-club101810-story.html NBC News scrutinizes Allen West's ties to Outlaws motorcycle club], ''NBC News''</ref>
*He defended one of his staff members named Joyce Kaufman after she endorsed [[lynching]] illegal immigrants who were found guilty of crimes.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/joyce-kaufman-allen-west-chief-of-staff_n_781178 Joyce Kaufman, Allen West's Chief Of Staff, Advocated Hanging Illegal Immigrants Who Commit Crimes], ''The Huffington Post''</ref>
* He has accused the Democratic Party of embracing Communism and using it to infiltrate the higher levels of the government, without any proof to back up these claims, claiming that up to eight Democratic members of the House of Representatives are members of Communist Party USA.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/allen-west-democrats-communist-party_n_1417279.html Allen West: I've 'Heard' 80 House Democrats Are Communist Party Members], ''The Huffington Post''</ref>
*During his 2010 campaign for office, journalists uncovered a paper trail showing that West had a series of unpaid debts. The IRS subsequently placed a lien on him.<ref>[https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2010/aug/30/ron-klein/ron-klien-says-allen-west-late-paying-bills/#:~:text=%22The%20IRS%20filed%20an%20%2411%2C000%20lien%20against%20%28Allen%29,over%20%245%2C000%20for%20past%20due%20credit%20card%20bills.%22 Ron Klein says Allen West late on paying bills], ''PolitiFact''</ref>
*He has demonstrated himself to be [[Homophobia|homophobic]] and [[Transphobia|transphobic]], believing that LGBT people shouldn't be allowed to serve in the armed forced and actively lobbying to prevent them from doing so.<ref>[https://www.glaad.org/tap/allen-west Allen West], GLAAD</ref>
*He also once stated that [[Joseph Goebbels]] would be proud of today's Democratic Party because "they have an incredible propaganda machine".<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/goebbels-would-be-very-proud-of-democratic-propaganda-west-says/2011/12/15/gIQA23dgwO_blog.html Goebbels would be ‘very proud’ of Democratic ‘propaganda,’ West says], ''The Washington Post''</ref>
*During a March 2011 speech, West said that religious coexistence "represents something that would give away our country" because it implies that Islam, which he described as "a vile and very vicious enemy", should be tolerated. West believes that Islam is "a totalitarian ideology, not a religion" and has accused Muslims of infiltrating the United States.<ref>[https://archive.thinkprogress.org/gop-candidate-allen-west-people-with-coexist-bumper-stickers-want-to-give-away-our-country-491732098b3f/ GOP Candidate Allen West: People With ‘Coexist’ Bumper Stickers Want To ‘Give Away Our Country’], ''Think Progress''</ref>
*In a radio interview with Mark Levin in 2012, West called for the US army to stop following President Obama's orders based on the false and misleading claims that he ordered them to enlist illegal immigrants.<ref>[https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/oct/02/allen-west/obama-ordered-military-enlist-illegal-aliens-allen/ Obama ordered military to enlist illegal aliens, Allen West says], ''PolitiFact''</ref>
*He has spoken at several [[QAnon]] events.<ref>[https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/01/texas-allen-west-sid-miller-louie-gohmert-qanon/ Texas officials speak at QAnon-affiliated event where Trump adviser Michael Flynn encouraged military coup on U.S. government], ''The Texas Tribune''</ref>
*He has falsely claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine is dangerous and vaccine mandates are part of a plot to "enrich the pockets of Big Pharma".<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/allen-west-goes-on-anti-vaxx-tirade-amid-covid-diagnosis COVID-Infected Allen West Goes on Unhinged Anti-Vax Rant—From Hospital], ''The Daily Beast''</ref>
==Current activities==
On June 4, 2021, West announced his resignation as GOP chair, effective July 11. On July 4, West announced that he would run against Governor of Texas Greg Abbott for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. West was defeated by Abbott in March 2022.
==References==
[[Category:Modern Villains]]
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