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.
It won’t get any better: Washington faces another looming government shutdown
Trump terminates deportation protections for Somali nationals living in Minnesota ‘effective immediately’
Breaking: Marjorie Taylor Greene to Resign from Congress Following Trump Feud
Florida to use hundreds of confiscated Chinese drones as target practice for US military
Marjorie Taylor Greene announces shock resignation from Congress after public divorce with Trump
‘Just say yes’: Trump cuts in as NYC mayor-elect Mamdani dodges on calling him a ‘fascist’ at Oval Office
Missouri judge who wore Elvis wigs in courtroom agrees to resign after ‘integrity’ concerns
Watch: CNBC Anchor Crushes Spiraling Hakeem Jeffries with Perfectly Timed Eye Roll
Dem House hopeful exposed as far-left activist pushing to abolish police weeks before special election
Embattled Rep. Eric Swalwell Announces Run for California Governor
State Department orders diplomats to pressure Western nations to end ‘mass migration’
Trump trades in attacks for praise as he hosts Mamdani in remarkably respectful Oval Office meeting
Trump reveals ‘one thing in common’ he has with Mamdani after Oval Office love fest
Sen. John Fetterman accuses Trump of ‘dangerous rhetoric’
Horrific: Woman Confesses to Brutal Murder of Child, 3 – Worst Part Comes When Cops Look in His Ear
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.
It won’t get any better: Washington faces another looming government shutdown
Trump terminates deportation protections for Somali nationals living in Minnesota ‘effective immediately’
Breaking: Marjorie Taylor Greene to Resign from Congress Following Trump Feud
Florida to use hundreds of confiscated Chinese drones as target practice for US military
Marjorie Taylor Greene announces shock resignation from Congress after public divorce with Trump
‘Just say yes’: Trump cuts in as NYC mayor-elect Mamdani dodges on calling him a ‘fascist’ at Oval Office
Missouri judge who wore Elvis wigs in courtroom agrees to resign after ‘integrity’ concerns
Watch: CNBC Anchor Crushes Spiraling Hakeem Jeffries with Perfectly Timed Eye Roll
Dem House hopeful exposed as far-left activist pushing to abolish police weeks before special election
Embattled Rep. Eric Swalwell Announces Run for California Governor
State Department orders diplomats to pressure Western nations to end ‘mass migration’
Trump trades in attacks for praise as he hosts Mamdani in remarkably respectful Oval Office meeting
Trump reveals ‘one thing in common’ he has with Mamdani after Oval Office love fest
Sen. John Fetterman accuses Trump of ‘dangerous rhetoric’
Horrific: Woman Confesses to Brutal Murder of Child, 3 – Worst Part Comes When Cops Look in His Ear
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.
