News Opinons Politics

Defense Secretary Has Fired Navy Secretary for ‘Lack of Candor’ on Eddie Gallagher Case

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.


Trump administration freezes $11 billion in blue-state infrastructure projects, blames Democrats for shutdown
WATCH: ‘No Kings’ protesters at massive NYC rally reveal motivation for taking to the streets: ‘Disgusting’
40 Days for Life sees spike in volunteers after Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Vance Leads Newsom in Head-To-Head 2028 Matchup: Respected Pollster
New Jersey Democratic governor hopeful attends ‘No Kings’ protest, vows to fight Trump ‘tooth and nail’
Alex Murdaugh’s double life: How greed and corruption brought down Lowcountry legal empire
They Can’t Even See the Irony: Socialist Orgs Behind ‘No Kings’ Protest Love Dictatorships
Major Airline Launches First Flight with Wi-Fi Powered by Elon Musk
‘World Turned Upside Down’ – British Surrender to Americans at Yorktown on This Day
Trump turns more aggressive, trolls ‘No Kings’ protest: White House Report Card
Prince Andrew Gives Up Royal Titles After Epstein Association Resurfaces
Nationwide unrest looms as ‘No Kings’ demonstrators begin to gather in major US cities
Don Lemon Appears to Encourage Terrorism, Urges ‘Black People’ to Buy Guns for Use Against ICE
From Israel to Ukraine, Trump spends week focused on navigating global conflicts
Ted Cruz Unveils Effort to Stop Anti-Christian Persecution in African Country

See also  New Jersey county ordered to fix ‘unlawful ballot design’ that favored Democrats

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.


Trump administration freezes $11 billion in blue-state infrastructure projects, blames Democrats for shutdown
WATCH: ‘No Kings’ protesters at massive NYC rally reveal motivation for taking to the streets: ‘Disgusting’
40 Days for Life sees spike in volunteers after Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Vance Leads Newsom in Head-To-Head 2028 Matchup: Respected Pollster
New Jersey Democratic governor hopeful attends ‘No Kings’ protest, vows to fight Trump ‘tooth and nail’
Alex Murdaugh’s double life: How greed and corruption brought down Lowcountry legal empire
They Can’t Even See the Irony: Socialist Orgs Behind ‘No Kings’ Protest Love Dictatorships
Major Airline Launches First Flight with Wi-Fi Powered by Elon Musk
‘World Turned Upside Down’ – British Surrender to Americans at Yorktown on This Day
Trump turns more aggressive, trolls ‘No Kings’ protest: White House Report Card
Prince Andrew Gives Up Royal Titles After Epstein Association Resurfaces
Nationwide unrest looms as ‘No Kings’ demonstrators begin to gather in major US cities
Don Lemon Appears to Encourage Terrorism, Urges ‘Black People’ to Buy Guns for Use Against ICE
From Israel to Ukraine, Trump spends week focused on navigating global conflicts
Ted Cruz Unveils Effort to Stop Anti-Christian Persecution in African Country

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.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter