Trump WON'T stop bid to kick SEAL Eddie Gallagher out of elite unit after Navy secretary and admiral threatened to resign as the soldier says he will release evidence of 'meddling' in his case
Daily Mail
November 24, 2019
A senior official said Sunday that the White House had given the green light to proceed with the review as planned on Friday, the day after Trump tweeted that the Navy 'will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher's Trident Pin'.
The Navy responded to the president's tweet by saying that it would be awaiting further guidance, and Navy Secretary Richard Spencer remarked that he did not consider the tweet to be a formal order.
Spencer and SEAL commander Rear Admiral Collin Green both reportedly threatened to resign if Trump halted the review.
Trump's apparent about-face came just as Gallagher, who was demoted in rank after he was convicted in July of a war crime for posing with a corpse, appeared on Fox & Friends Sunday morning and praised the president for his continued support.
Gallagher claimed the move to revoke his SEAL status was 'retaliation' for Trump's public bid to restore his rank the week prior.
The SEAL charged that Navy officers engaged in 'corruption' during his case - and revealed that he is armed with additional evidence against top officials, including Spencer.
EDITOR’S NOTE: As he is prone to do, Trump put his big mouth in motion before putting his brain in gear. But the Trumpers love it.
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NAVY SECRETARY RICHARD SPENCER RESIGNS
Eddie Gallagher THANKS 'true leader' Donald Trump for showing 'moral fiber' after Navy Secretary Richard Spencer resigned over the disgraced SEAL's war crimes case
Daily Mail
November 25, 2019
Embattled Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher released a statement Sunday night thanking President Donald Trump for the numerous times he has intervened on his behalf shortly after Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced his resignation.
Gallagher, who was convicted by a military jury in July of illegally posing for pictures with the corpse of an Islamic State fighter in Iraq in 2017, called Trump a 'true leader'.
Gallagher said: 'President Donald Trump, you have my deepest gratitude and thanks. You stepped in numerous times and showed true moral fiber by correcting all the wrongs that were being done to me.'
The SEAL's statement comes just hours after Spencer announced his resignation.
Spencer wrote in his resignation letter that he 'cannot in good conscience' obey the order to stop Gallagher's case going before the review board, because he believes it 'violates the sacred oath' he took.
3 comments:
Let's wait and see how this ultimately shakes out Howie. This ain't necessarily over yet. I mean...No sense putting your big mouth in motion before putting your brain in gear.
Other news pieces say SecDef fired SecNav.
This is the first I have heard that Trump has backed down. In fact, Fox News says just the opposite today. In 5 days Navy Seal Gallahger is retiring with his Trident. This case was about retaliation against him for speaking out about the wrong doing of the prosecutor. It is no coincidence that the Sec. of Navy retired. I read Trump tweets. That guy was fired.
The President's Tweet:
I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s trial was handled by the Navy. He was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddie’s rank. Likewise, large cost overruns from past administration’s contracting procedures were not addressed to my satisfaction. Therefore, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer’s services have been terminated by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. I thank Richard for his service & commitment. Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin. Admiral and now Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite will be nominated by me to be the new Secretary of the Navy. A man of great achievement and success, I know Ken will do an outstanding job!
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