SEATTLE — The Air Force is saying not so fast on the reinstatement of a lesbian flight nurse discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
A federal judge in Tacoma ruled in September that former Maj. Margaret Witt’s firing violated her rights, and he ordered that she be given her job back as soon as she put in enough nursing hours to meet qualifications for the position.
The Justice Department appealed that ruling on Tuesday but did not seek to put it on hold while the appeal proceeds, and Witt’s lawyers said that meant she could be reinstated.
But the Air Force issued a statement Wednesday saying that if Witt meets her nursing qualifications, military officials and the Justice Department will reconsider whether to seek a stay.
Witt’s lawyers say they’ll fight any effort by the Air Force to keep Witt from being reinstated.
Witt was suspended in 2004 and subsequently discharged after the Air Force learned she had been in a long-term relationship with a civilian woman.
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