Local West Point-grad probed following social-media posts

Staff/wire report

FORT DRUM, N.Y.

A local graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is under scrutiny after social media posts espousing communism drew the attention of right-wing media sites.

New Castle, Pa., native Spenser Rapone, an Army second lieutenant, posted a photo to Twitter on Sunday in which “communism will win” was written on the inside of his cap at his May 2016 graduation.

Rapone, 29, posted another photo Monday in which he revealed a T-shirt featuring revolutionary Che Guevara underneath his uniform.

His Twitter account has since been made private.

The posts were the subject of numerous stories on Breitbart News and The Daily Caller.

The U.S. Military Academy released a statement Tuesday distancing itself from Rapone and his actions.

“Second Lieutenant Rapone’s actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army,” the statement read.

It added that members of the military are prohibited from engaging in certain types of political speech in uniform and said Rapone’s chain of command is looking into the matter.

Former U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire sponsored Rapone’s appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. Altmire provided a statement to The Daily Caller.

The Pennsylvania Democrat said Rapone was an outstanding, well-rounded student when he met him.

“I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions,” Altmire said. “I have no doubt that the U.S. Army will take appropriate action.”

Rapone’s father, Lawrence County Treasurer Richard Rapone, made a Facebook post Tuesday that has since been deleted in which he said his son’s views changed after he served in Afghanistan.

“Spenser is my son and I love him dearly, however I do not like nor condone his politics, his actions or behavior,” Richard Rapone posted. “As a young man, Spenser personified patriotism. ... It’s my belief when he returned back from Afghanistan there was a notable difference in his political views.”

Contributor: Associated Press