NEW YORK – The father of a Muslim Army chaplain accused of mishandling classified information said the charges against his son are based on ethnic and religious profiling.
Capt. James Yee (search), 35, is a Chinese-American who had been serving as a chaplain to suspected terrorists at the military's detention camp at Guantanamo Bay (search), Cuba.
Joseph Yee, 76, of Springfield, N.J., called on the government Monday to drop charges against his son.
"They've smeared the Yee family name," he said. "I think they are running a conspiracy against him. It's a waste of time and of taxpayers' dollars."
A Pentagon spokeswoman referred questions to a spokeswoman at Guantanamo, who did not immediately return a call for comment.
The elder Yee spoke at a news conference before flying to Fort Benning (search), Ga., for the resumption Wednesday of a hearing in his son's case.
Capt. Yee was arrested in September at the Jacksonville, Fla., airport on suspicion of espionage. Customs officials confiscated notes found on him during a search.
The elder Yee said he wants to know why another Army officer, Col. Jack Farr, accused of mishandling classified material and making false statements was allowed to remain on duty.
Charges of spying and aiding the enemy -- both capital offenses -- were never brought against Capt. Yee. He faces lesser allegations of mishandling classified data, disobeying orders, adultery and storing pornography on an Army computer.
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