Navy JAG Officer Implodes After Calling for Violence Against ICE, Attacking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
A newly minted Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer is under military investigation after an explosive series of social media posts surfaced, exposing anti-government threats, hate-fueled tirades against federal agents, and personal attacks on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The officer in question, identified as Benjamin “Benny” France, reportedly posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he would “hunt down every J6 and ICE agent,” sparking immediate outrage across military and veteran communities. The remarks appear to violate both military conduct standards and federal law.
France, who joined the Navy JAG Corps just last year, previously shared images of his oath-taking ceremony and legal aspirations. But his recent descent into radical rhetoric and threats of violence has alarmed military brass and patriots alike.
Sam Shoemate, a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer and respected intelligence voice, exposed France’s unhinged behavior in a viral thread complete with archived screenshots and professional credentials. The posts include direct slurs against Secretary Hegseth, a decorated veteran who served in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
“France called Pete Hegseth a ‘P.O.S.’ — a disgraceful insult to a man who risked his life for this country,” Shoemate wrote.
Once identified, France immediately deleted his X account in a desperate attempt to bury the evidence — but screenshots captured by Shoemate and others made sure the digital trail remains.
Among the receipts:
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Photos of France taking the Navy JAG oath
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Posts calling for violent retaliation against federal agents
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Direct attacks on ICE and military leadership
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A sudden deletion of all accounts following exposure
Shoemate also confirmed that France’s chain of command had been notified, and encouraged others to follow up given the gravity of the threats.
“This kind of behavior can’t be tolerated — especially from a commissioned officer whose job is to uphold the law, not threaten its defenders,” Shoemate stated.
The Department of the Navy has yet to comment, but pressure is mounting for a full disciplinary review, with many demanding that France be removed from the JAG Corps immediately.