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.
Twin Cities’ wage hikes roasted after report exposes job-crushing fallout in Tim Walz’s backyard
Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll Gets Horrible News About $83 Million Verdict Against Trump
Rand Paul brings CIA whistleblower to Senate hearing alleging ‘deep state’ COVID-19 conspiracy
Developing: Saudi Arabia Has Joined US, Israel, and UAE – Now Revealed to Have Been Attacking Iran as Well
China rolls out the red carpet, American flags, and military honor guard for Trump’s arrival in Beijing
Four takeaways from Nebraska and West Virginia’s primary elections
Man Sucked Into Jet Engine at Denver Airport Had Lengthy Rap Sheet, Once Arrested for Attempted Murder
James Talarico enlists Barack Obama to help win over black voters after contentious Texas primary
Keystone XL Pipeline 2.0: Trump Signs Permit for Massive New US-Canada Oil Pipeline – Some of 42,000 Jobs Biden Killed Could Return
Singham-backed, pro-China group drops huge sum on Manhattan HQ as feds probe shadowy network
Inside the ‘digital lockdown’ for US officials as Trump arrives in China
Move to oust Nancy Guthrie sheriff fails as Pima County supervisors refer perjury allegations to AG
Marco Rubio spotted in Nike tracksuit aboard Air Force One during trip to China, igniting memes online
Rubio wears Nike tracksuit aboard Air Force One in parody of Maduro capture
High school student with history of anger issues charged with murder of homeless woman in Las Vegas
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.
Twin Cities’ wage hikes roasted after report exposes job-crushing fallout in Tim Walz’s backyard
Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll Gets Horrible News About $83 Million Verdict Against Trump
Rand Paul brings CIA whistleblower to Senate hearing alleging ‘deep state’ COVID-19 conspiracy
Developing: Saudi Arabia Has Joined US, Israel, and UAE – Now Revealed to Have Been Attacking Iran as Well
China rolls out the red carpet, American flags, and military honor guard for Trump’s arrival in Beijing
Four takeaways from Nebraska and West Virginia’s primary elections
Man Sucked Into Jet Engine at Denver Airport Had Lengthy Rap Sheet, Once Arrested for Attempted Murder
James Talarico enlists Barack Obama to help win over black voters after contentious Texas primary
Keystone XL Pipeline 2.0: Trump Signs Permit for Massive New US-Canada Oil Pipeline – Some of 42,000 Jobs Biden Killed Could Return
Singham-backed, pro-China group drops huge sum on Manhattan HQ as feds probe shadowy network
Inside the ‘digital lockdown’ for US officials as Trump arrives in China
Move to oust Nancy Guthrie sheriff fails as Pima County supervisors refer perjury allegations to AG
Marco Rubio spotted in Nike tracksuit aboard Air Force One during trip to China, igniting memes online
Rubio wears Nike tracksuit aboard Air Force One in parody of Maduro capture
High school student with history of anger issues charged with murder of homeless woman in Las Vegas
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.
