The Pentagon announced Sunday afternoon that Defense Secretary Mark Esper has asked Navy Secretary Richard Spencer to resign for not telling him that he had a private conversation with the White House over the taking away of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher’s Navy SEAL Trident pin.
“Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper has asked for the resignation of Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer after losing trust and confidence in him regarding his lack of candor over conversations with the White House involving the handling of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher,” the Pentagon’s chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement Sunday.
Trump had intervened in recent weeks to restore Gallagher’s rank, which was reduced by the Navy after he was convicted of taking a photo with a deceased Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighter.
The Navy then announced it would launch a review board to consider whether to take away Gallagher’s Trident pin, essentially kicking him out of the Navy SEALs. Trump tweeted that the Navy would do no such thing, but Spencer said it would proceed until receiving an official order from the president, which he would follow.
My Brother’s Teacher Told Him to ‘Draw What Brings You Most Joy’: Since His Answer Was the Cross, It Wasn’t Allowed
Parents in Bronx neighborhood plead for NYPD guard as Mamdani cuts cops, halts hires: ‘Horrible situation’
British Christian Nurse Accused of ‘Misgendering’ a Patient Cleared of Consequences
Radical activist groups circle wagons around Southern Poverty Law Center amid federal charges
US turns to drones after retiring minesweepers to reopen Strait of Hormuz amid Iran crisis
Russia’s Communists channel their ancestors, evoke 1917 in warning to Putin over economy
Michigan governor hopeful pressed on past SPLC work after DOJ indictment: ‘What did Jocelyn know?’
The lawmakers to watch as House tries to pass $70 billion reconciliation bill
DC murder rate sees astonishing turnaround as Trump team credits federal crackdown
US military kills two suspected narco-terrorists in strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Pacific
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: UCLA mob mess, veiled threats of violence and a major win over DEI
NFL Legend and Hall of Famer Abruptly Hospitalized, Lawyer and Friend Issues Update
Trump Admin Throws Out Obama-Era Gender Rule in Favor of ‘What the Lord Established from the Beginning’
Florida Dem filed for re-election days before resignation as House Ethics Committee ramped up pressure
Poll Shows Young People Fleeing Major Dem City Due to Cost of Living, Safety, And Jobs
The Pentagon said in its statement that after Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley spoke with President Trump on Friday regarding Gallagher’s case, Esper learned that “Spencer had previously and privately proposed to the White House — contrary to Spencer’s public position — to restore Gallagher’s rank and allow him to retire with his Trident pin.”
“When recently asked by Secretary Esper, Secretary Spencer confirmed that despite multiple conversations on the Gallagher matter, Secretary Esper was never informed by Secretary Spencer of his private proposal,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman also announced that Esper has directed that Gallagher retain his Trident pin, and that Navy Under Secretary Thomas Modley would now be acting Navy secretary.
Hoffman said:
Secretary Esper’s position with regard to UCMJ, disciplinary, and fitness for duty actions has always been that the process should be allowed to play itself out objectively and deliberately, in fairness to all parties. However, at this point, given the events of the last few days, Secretary Esper has directed that Gallagher retain his Trident pin. Secretary Esper will meet with Navy Under Secretary (now Acting Secretary) Thomas Modley and the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday on Monday morning to discuss the way ahead.
My Brother’s Teacher Told Him to ‘Draw What Brings You Most Joy’: Since His Answer Was the Cross, It Wasn’t Allowed
Parents in Bronx neighborhood plead for NYPD guard as Mamdani cuts cops, halts hires: ‘Horrible situation’
British Christian Nurse Accused of ‘Misgendering’ a Patient Cleared of Consequences
Radical activist groups circle wagons around Southern Poverty Law Center amid federal charges
US turns to drones after retiring minesweepers to reopen Strait of Hormuz amid Iran crisis
Russia’s Communists channel their ancestors, evoke 1917 in warning to Putin over economy
Michigan governor hopeful pressed on past SPLC work after DOJ indictment: ‘What did Jocelyn know?’
The lawmakers to watch as House tries to pass $70 billion reconciliation bill
DC murder rate sees astonishing turnaround as Trump team credits federal crackdown
US military kills two suspected narco-terrorists in strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Pacific
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: UCLA mob mess, veiled threats of violence and a major win over DEI
NFL Legend and Hall of Famer Abruptly Hospitalized, Lawyer and Friend Issues Update
Trump Admin Throws Out Obama-Era Gender Rule in Favor of ‘What the Lord Established from the Beginning’
Florida Dem filed for re-election days before resignation as House Ethics Committee ramped up pressure
Poll Shows Young People Fleeing Major Dem City Due to Cost of Living, Safety, And Jobs
The Pentagon statement included a quote from Esper: “I am deeply troubled by this conduct shown by a senior DOD official. Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position. I wish Richard well.”
Esper has proposed that Ambassador Kenneth Braithwaite, current U.S. Ambassador to Norway and a retired Navy Rear Admiral, be considered as the next Secretary of the Navy, the statement said.
Story cited here.
