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.
Fox News Poll: Democratic unity, Republican crossovers shape Ohio Senate race
Rubio warns risk of escalation in Russia-Ukraine war is ‘more real than it was two years ago’
Video: WNBA Punishes Brittney Griner for Manhandling Angel Reese in On-Court Clash
Former primary rival resurfaces to challenge scandal-plagued Graham Platner in Maine Senate race
‘A Lot of Complaints Had Been Made’: Henry Nowak’s Murderer Was Known to Cops, Had Been Arrested Previously, Never Charged
Detective arrested after allegedly pulling gun on fellow officer for microwaving fish at police station
Cold case of missing news anchor rocked by claim of confession in roadside meltdown: report
LATE BREAKING: ’60 Minutes’ Star Reporter Scott Pelley Fired After Mouthing Off to New Boss Chosen by Bari Weiss
WATCH: Rubio scorches claim Trump weighed finances in Iran decisions: ‘Not even for a millisecond’
Sex criminals, gang members abused child immigration program to enter US, DHS reveals
BREAKING VIDEO: UK Police Retreat as Brits Furious About Murder of Henry Nowak Take to Streets, Pelt Cops with Enormous Garbage Cans
Bessent clarifies threat against Bill Pulte: He said he was going to ‘kick his a**’
Aid group warns Ebola could have spread for three months before first cases were detected
Rubio grilled over Trump’s national security picks and foreign policy priorities: ‘It’s not funny, secretary’
Judge with intimate ties to Dem Party’s key Russia Hoax players behind latest anti-Trump decision
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.
Fox News Poll: Democratic unity, Republican crossovers shape Ohio Senate race
Rubio warns risk of escalation in Russia-Ukraine war is ‘more real than it was two years ago’
Video: WNBA Punishes Brittney Griner for Manhandling Angel Reese in On-Court Clash
Former primary rival resurfaces to challenge scandal-plagued Graham Platner in Maine Senate race
‘A Lot of Complaints Had Been Made’: Henry Nowak’s Murderer Was Known to Cops, Had Been Arrested Previously, Never Charged
Detective arrested after allegedly pulling gun on fellow officer for microwaving fish at police station
Cold case of missing news anchor rocked by claim of confession in roadside meltdown: report
LATE BREAKING: ’60 Minutes’ Star Reporter Scott Pelley Fired After Mouthing Off to New Boss Chosen by Bari Weiss
WATCH: Rubio scorches claim Trump weighed finances in Iran decisions: ‘Not even for a millisecond’
Sex criminals, gang members abused child immigration program to enter US, DHS reveals
BREAKING VIDEO: UK Police Retreat as Brits Furious About Murder of Henry Nowak Take to Streets, Pelt Cops with Enormous Garbage Cans
Bessent clarifies threat against Bill Pulte: He said he was going to ‘kick his a**’
Aid group warns Ebola could have spread for three months before first cases were detected
Rubio grilled over Trump’s national security picks and foreign policy priorities: ‘It’s not funny, secretary’
Judge with intimate ties to Dem Party’s key Russia Hoax players behind latest anti-Trump decision
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.
