Legal Battle Over COVID-19 Shot Mandate Sparks Debate on Military Accountability and Public Health

Image: Wikimedia Commons (Joint Base Langley-Eustis, 2021)

A federal defamation lawsuit from Dr. Terry Adirim, a former health official at the Pentagon, has emerged as a crucial forum for a larger debate surrounding the U.S. military’s COVID-19 shot mandate instituted in 2021.

Dr. Adirim, who served as the acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, played a key role in advising the Pentagon during the so-called vaccine rollout. Three years later, she transitioned to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as director of the agency’s Center for Global Health Services but was dismissed from her position on April 4, 2025.

In response to her termination, Adirim filed a lawsuit against the CIA, its director John Ratcliffe, and Ivan Raiklin, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer and attorney who publicly alleged her involvement in the shot mandate. In a ruling last February, Judge Michael Nachmanoff dismissed the remaining claims against the CIA but allowed portions of Adirim’s lawsuit against Raiklin to move forward.

This ongoing legal battle has notable implications, as Raiklin’s defense will introduce powerful claims regarding the mandate and alleged mRNA shot-related injuries into the evidentiary record.

Adding to the controversy, a recent declaration reported by The Gateway Pundit has intensified the discourse surrounding the case. Retired Army flight surgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Theresa Long claims to have direct knowledge of over 29 service member fatalities following COVID-19 vaccinations. She is currently reviewing approximately 55,000 reports of adverse events associated with military vaccinations, including 2,544 recorded deaths.

On October 30, 2026, Raiklin is set to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to address two defense motions in the case of Adirim v. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency et al., No. 1:25-cv-00768-MSN-WBP (E.D. Va.). The hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 600 of the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse, located at 401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314. Key discussions will revolve around ECF 78 (Motion for Summary Judgment) and ECF 81 (Motion to Exclude), with a potential jury trial scheduled for January 19, 2027.

In a post on X, Raiklin expressed his desire for strong attendance at the hearing, particularly from those who signed the Declaration of Military Accountability and an open letter advocating for the elimination of the mRNA vaccine platform.

 

Press Advisory!

When: October 30
Where: 401 Courthouse Square, Courtroom 600
Alexandria, VA 22314

What: 9am Press conference in front of the Courthouse to discuss the COVID Cartel from the White House, DOD and CIA (with special guest TBA)

10am Motion for Summary Judgment Hearing

After the hearing I will answer questions outside the Courthouse (with different special guest)

I request that all signatories of the
1. Declaration of Military Accountability and the
2. Open Letter Regarding the Removal of the mRNA Platform

To attend this crucial hearing that will determine the path forward for COVID transparency and accountability!
For more information: https://t.co/SG8fr0PhfO

— Ivan Raiklin (@IvanRaiklin) September 22, 2026

The Declaration of Military Accountability, first reported by author J.M. Phelps on January 1, 2024, is a pivotal document in military history, spearheaded by author and Commander Robert A. Green Jr. of the U.S. Navy. It has garnered the support of 231 service members and veterans, including active-duty personnel, who are calling for significant reforms and accountability regarding the shot mandate. Raiklin is among the signatories.

Citing Thomas Jefferson, Raiklin told The Gateway Pundit, “When the government fears the people, there is freedom.” He expressed that he is advocating for “maximum freedom” not just for himself but also for what he claims are 8,700 service members discharged due to the mandate, 80,000 who had their careers cut short, 20,000 who retired prematurely, and approximately two million others who he believes were “duped and unlawfully coerced” into accepting an unsafe, ineffective, and at times harmful—even lethal—emergency-use-authorized product. He contends that if individuals had been aware of the “legally distinct” framework outlined in 10 U.S.C. § 1107a, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3, and Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6200.02—and if misinformation and censorship had not stemmed from what he describes as corrupt former senior leadership within the FBI — they would not have opted to receive the shot.

As the push for accountability reverberates within the military community, a similar urgency is emerging across the broader healthcare sector, as reported by The Gateway Pundit earlier today. An open letter addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and President Donald Trump, dated September 18, 2026, has been signed by over 160 healthcare advocates demanding a reevaluation of mRNA vaccine policies—a movement that Raiklin supports wholeheartedly.

In their letter, advocates explicitly warned that “neither Republicans nor Democrats could have prevailed” without the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) and health freedom vote. They cautioned that these voters “can and will walk away” from the coalition in upcoming elections if the administration continues to ignore their core stance on vaccine mandates and medical freedom.

Interestingly, the hearing with Raiklin is set to take place at a critical moment, positioned between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection on October 27 and the U.S. Midterm Elections on November 3. This timing could intensify scrutiny on Jared Kushner, a special envoy for peace, who is advocating for the demilitarization and governance of Gaza after the conflict, as he was one of the cofounders of Operation Warp Speed, as Raiklin pointed out.

This growing momentum for transparency and scrutiny is further reflected in Raiklin’s upcoming press availability, where he intends to illuminate critical issues surrounding the pandemic response. According to a press release, Raiklin is scheduled to provide details regarding Jared Kushner, Anthony Fauci, Operation Warp Speed, and documents related to Fauci released by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). Reporters are encouraged to gather on the courthouse grounds at 9:00 a.m. for access to primary documents.

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The ramifications of Adirim’s lawsuit and the surrounding controversies extend well beyond individual grievances. The testimonies and declarations from military and healthcare leaders are fostering an essential dialogue about the safety of vaccination protocols and the accountability of those in positions of power. The forthcoming days may well prove pivotal in shaping the future of public health and military protocols in the United States.

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