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.
Republicans question Trump’s ‘privately funded’ ballroom after report points to taxpayer burden
WATCH: Unearthed video shows leftist Senate hopeful celebrating anti-fossil fuel group’s arrival in Texas
Delaware hospital shooting suspect identified, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder
Sick: PBS Bigwig Appears to Keep Job After Publicly Wishing Stroke on Trump in Deranged Birthday Message
Leftist Professor Goes Viral by Admitting the Hard Truth – Trump Has Destroyed Their Dreams and the Democratic Party Too
Judge reveals Luigi Mangione will pursue psychiatric defense in UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination case
12 Key Points on Iran Peace Deal Revealed, as Trump Says He’ll Likely Read It to Media So They Get It Right
Pentagon Sends Coast Guard to Rescue 2 Survivors After Latest Deadly Strike on Narco-Terrorists in Pacific
Oklahoma Democrats face runoff showdown in race for deep-red Senate seat
Deadly B-52 crash puts focus on engines, controllability as investigators hunt for answers
Trump says Senate hearing on DNI nominee is cancelled until US attorney replacement confirmed
Trump DNI pick braces for Senate grilling as temporary stand-in fuels Dem pressure
5 chilling details from the alleged White House attack plot tied to UFC event
Netanyahu’s relationship with Trump becomes baggage in reelection campaign
Canadian tourism to US begins to rebound after 51st state, tariffs debacle
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.
Republicans question Trump’s ‘privately funded’ ballroom after report points to taxpayer burden
WATCH: Unearthed video shows leftist Senate hopeful celebrating anti-fossil fuel group’s arrival in Texas
Delaware hospital shooting suspect identified, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder
Sick: PBS Bigwig Appears to Keep Job After Publicly Wishing Stroke on Trump in Deranged Birthday Message
Leftist Professor Goes Viral by Admitting the Hard Truth – Trump Has Destroyed Their Dreams and the Democratic Party Too
Judge reveals Luigi Mangione will pursue psychiatric defense in UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination case
12 Key Points on Iran Peace Deal Revealed, as Trump Says He’ll Likely Read It to Media So They Get It Right
Pentagon Sends Coast Guard to Rescue 2 Survivors After Latest Deadly Strike on Narco-Terrorists in Pacific
Oklahoma Democrats face runoff showdown in race for deep-red Senate seat
Deadly B-52 crash puts focus on engines, controllability as investigators hunt for answers
Trump says Senate hearing on DNI nominee is cancelled until US attorney replacement confirmed
Trump DNI pick braces for Senate grilling as temporary stand-in fuels Dem pressure
5 chilling details from the alleged White House attack plot tied to UFC event
Netanyahu’s relationship with Trump becomes baggage in reelection campaign
Canadian tourism to US begins to rebound after 51st state, tariffs debacle
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.
