Embattled SEAL Eddie Gallagher released a statement Sunday night thanking President Donald Trump for the numerous times he has intervened on his behalf shortly after Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced his resignation.
Gallagher, who was convicted by a military jury in July of illegally posing for pictures with the corpse of an Islamic State fighter in Iraq in 2017, called Trump a ‘true leader’ in a statement obtained by The Washington Examiner.
‘President Donald Trump, you have my deepest gratitude and thanks,’ Gallagher said. ‘You stepped in numerous times and showed true moral fiber by correcting all the wrongs that were being done to me.’
Gallagher, who has plans to retire as a SEAL by November 30, added: ‘You are a true leader and exactly what the military and this nation needs. God bless you and your family.’
Trump to honor Artemis II astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history
Trump fires back after protester interrupts Myrtle Beach rally for Graham: ‘Mom is voting for us’
More Westerners Waking up to Islam as Gov’t Bans Face Coverings, Leaving Both Muslims and (Ironically) Feminists Angry
Trump rally security ejects protester wearing ‘kill your local pedophile’ shirt
Candace Cameron Bure Tears Up on Air Over Constant Criticism, But God Provided a Literally Perfect Smile Through the Pain
Fauci’s lawyers launch legal defense fund as federal, state investigations mount against him
‘Escalating Pressures’ from the FCC Have Impacted ‘The View’s’ Guest List: Disney Lawsuit
Late-night bull run ends with a little cowboy know-how on busy California highway
They Never Learn: NYT Ordered to Pay $9 Million After Falsely Linking Innocent Student to 2023 Murder
New Jersey mother allegedly drunk when boat hit channel marker on Memorial Day, killing her son
Texas Gov Abbott asks the Justice Department to investigate ‘discriminatory’ Islamic washing stations
DOJ says Rubio should have final say over Foreign Service board in latest bid to tighten executive powers
Trump Announces Deal to ‘Substantially Lower the Price of Ground Beef’
Chinese Man Charged with Illegally Voting in US Election and Trying to Frame Someone Else
Vance unloads on El-Sayed over Sharia remarks: ‘That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party’
Embattled SEAL Eddie Gallagher released a statement Sunday night thanking President Donald Trump for the numerous times he has intervened on his behalf shortly after Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced his resignation.
Gallagher, who was convicted by a military jury in July of illegally posing for pictures with the corpse of an Islamic State fighter in Iraq in 2017, called Trump a ‘true leader’ in a statement obtained by The Washington Examiner.
‘President Donald Trump, you have my deepest gratitude and thanks,’ Gallagher said. ‘You stepped in numerous times and showed true moral fiber by correcting all the wrongs that were being done to me.’
Gallagher, who has plans to retire as a SEAL by November 30, added: ‘You are a true leader and exactly what the military and this nation needs. God bless you and your family.’
The SEAL’s statement comes just hours after Spencer announced his resignation. Spencer wrote in his resignation letter that he ‘cannot in good conscience’ obey the order to stop Gallagher’s case going before the review board, because he believes it ‘violates the sacred oath’ he took.
He added that he appears to disagree with Trump on the ‘key principle of good order and discipline’.
However, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said that he had asked Spencer to step down because he had allegedly gone behind his back. Esper claimed that Spencer promised White House officials that Gallagher would retire with his SEAL trident if they did not interfere with his review board.
Trump to honor Artemis II astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history
Trump fires back after protester interrupts Myrtle Beach rally for Graham: ‘Mom is voting for us’
More Westerners Waking up to Islam as Gov’t Bans Face Coverings, Leaving Both Muslims and (Ironically) Feminists Angry
Trump rally security ejects protester wearing ‘kill your local pedophile’ shirt
Candace Cameron Bure Tears Up on Air Over Constant Criticism, But God Provided a Literally Perfect Smile Through the Pain
Fauci’s lawyers launch legal defense fund as federal, state investigations mount against him
‘Escalating Pressures’ from the FCC Have Impacted ‘The View’s’ Guest List: Disney Lawsuit
Late-night bull run ends with a little cowboy know-how on busy California highway
They Never Learn: NYT Ordered to Pay $9 Million After Falsely Linking Innocent Student to 2023 Murder
New Jersey mother allegedly drunk when boat hit channel marker on Memorial Day, killing her son
Texas Gov Abbott asks the Justice Department to investigate ‘discriminatory’ Islamic washing stations
DOJ says Rubio should have final say over Foreign Service board in latest bid to tighten executive powers
Trump Announces Deal to ‘Substantially Lower the Price of Ground Beef’
Chinese Man Charged with Illegally Voting in US Election and Trying to Frame Someone Else
Vance unloads on El-Sayed over Sharia remarks: ‘That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party’
Gallagher is due to face a disciplinary board that has the power to kick him out of the elite unit.
Trump tweeted a week ago that the board should not go ahead and Gallagher would stay in the unit.
It was reported yesterday that both Spencer and the admiral in charge of the SEALs threatened to resign if Trump didn’t back down, but Spencer claimed that he never threatened to resign in a tweet, adding that he serves at the ‘pleasure of the president’.
Following the news of Spencer’s resignation, Trump said in a series of tweets: ‘I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s trial was handled by the Navy. He was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddie’s rank.
‘Likewise, large cost overruns from past administration’s contracting procedures were not addressed to my satisfaction.’
Trump continued: ‘Therefore, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer’s services have been terminated by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. I thank Richard for his service & commitment. Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin.
The president then said that admiral and Ambassador to Norway, Ken Braithwaite, ‘will be nominated by me to be the new Secretary of the Navy’.
Trump to honor Artemis II astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history
Trump fires back after protester interrupts Myrtle Beach rally for Graham: ‘Mom is voting for us’
More Westerners Waking up to Islam as Gov’t Bans Face Coverings, Leaving Both Muslims and (Ironically) Feminists Angry
Trump rally security ejects protester wearing ‘kill your local pedophile’ shirt
Candace Cameron Bure Tears Up on Air Over Constant Criticism, But God Provided a Literally Perfect Smile Through the Pain
Fauci’s lawyers launch legal defense fund as federal, state investigations mount against him
‘Escalating Pressures’ from the FCC Have Impacted ‘The View’s’ Guest List: Disney Lawsuit
Late-night bull run ends with a little cowboy know-how on busy California highway
They Never Learn: NYT Ordered to Pay $9 Million After Falsely Linking Innocent Student to 2023 Murder
New Jersey mother allegedly drunk when boat hit channel marker on Memorial Day, killing her son
Texas Gov Abbott asks the Justice Department to investigate ‘discriminatory’ Islamic washing stations
DOJ says Rubio should have final say over Foreign Service board in latest bid to tighten executive powers
Trump Announces Deal to ‘Substantially Lower the Price of Ground Beef’
Chinese Man Charged with Illegally Voting in US Election and Trying to Frame Someone Else
Vance unloads on El-Sayed over Sharia remarks: ‘That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party’
‘A man of great achievement and success, I know Ken will do an outstanding job!’ the president added.
Earlier today the White House said that Trump would not interfere in the process and it appeared as if the president was backing down.
Trump’s apparent about-face came just as Gallagher, who was demoted in rank after he was convicted in July of a war crime for posing with a corpse, appeared on Fox & Friends Sunday morning and praised the president for his continued support.
‘I don’t know how many times I can thank the president. He keeps stepping in and doing the right thing,’ he said. ‘I just want to let him know that the rest of the SEAL community is not about this right now. They all respect the president.’
Gallagher claimed the move to revoke his SEAL status was ‘retaliation’ for Trump’s public bid to restore his rank the week prior and accused Navy top brass of ‘insubordination’.
‘This is all about ego and retaliation. This has nothing to do with good order and discipline,’ Gallagher told Fox & Friends.
The SEAL also charged that Navy officers engaged in ‘corruption’ during his case – and revealed that he is armed with additional evidence against top officials.
Trump to honor Artemis II astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history
Trump fires back after protester interrupts Myrtle Beach rally for Graham: ‘Mom is voting for us’
More Westerners Waking up to Islam as Gov’t Bans Face Coverings, Leaving Both Muslims and (Ironically) Feminists Angry
Trump rally security ejects protester wearing ‘kill your local pedophile’ shirt
Candace Cameron Bure Tears Up on Air Over Constant Criticism, But God Provided a Literally Perfect Smile Through the Pain
Fauci’s lawyers launch legal defense fund as federal, state investigations mount against him
‘Escalating Pressures’ from the FCC Have Impacted ‘The View’s’ Guest List: Disney Lawsuit
Late-night bull run ends with a little cowboy know-how on busy California highway
They Never Learn: NYT Ordered to Pay $9 Million After Falsely Linking Innocent Student to 2023 Murder
New Jersey mother allegedly drunk when boat hit channel marker on Memorial Day, killing her son
Texas Gov Abbott asks the Justice Department to investigate ‘discriminatory’ Islamic washing stations
DOJ says Rubio should have final say over Foreign Service board in latest bid to tighten executive powers
Trump Announces Deal to ‘Substantially Lower the Price of Ground Beef’
Chinese Man Charged with Illegally Voting in US Election and Trying to Frame Someone Else
Vance unloads on El-Sayed over Sharia remarks: ‘That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party’
‘Just recently we come up more evidence that will be exposing next week that the secretary of the Navy [Spencer] was actually meddling in my case and trying to get organizations not to support me while I was incarcerated,’ Gallagher said.
‘They could have taken my Trident at any time they wanted now trying to take it after president restored my rank.
‘I just want to retire peacefully with all the honors that I have earned. Get back to my family,’ he added, noting that he hopes to retire by November 30.
The alleged private proposal consisted of Spencer requesting White House officials to not interfere with the proceedings against Gallagher. If White House officials agreed, then Spencer would ensure that Gallagher was able to retire as a Navy SEAL.
Spencer reportedly did not share information regarding the proposal with Esper, despite having multiple conversations about it.
In a statement on Sunday, Esper said he was ‘deeply troubled by this conduct’.
‘Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position,’ Esper said in a statement. ‘I wish Richard well.’
Trump to honor Artemis II astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history
Trump fires back after protester interrupts Myrtle Beach rally for Graham: ‘Mom is voting for us’
More Westerners Waking up to Islam as Gov’t Bans Face Coverings, Leaving Both Muslims and (Ironically) Feminists Angry
Trump rally security ejects protester wearing ‘kill your local pedophile’ shirt
Candace Cameron Bure Tears Up on Air Over Constant Criticism, But God Provided a Literally Perfect Smile Through the Pain
Fauci’s lawyers launch legal defense fund as federal, state investigations mount against him
‘Escalating Pressures’ from the FCC Have Impacted ‘The View’s’ Guest List: Disney Lawsuit
Late-night bull run ends with a little cowboy know-how on busy California highway
They Never Learn: NYT Ordered to Pay $9 Million After Falsely Linking Innocent Student to 2023 Murder
New Jersey mother allegedly drunk when boat hit channel marker on Memorial Day, killing her son
Texas Gov Abbott asks the Justice Department to investigate ‘discriminatory’ Islamic washing stations
DOJ says Rubio should have final say over Foreign Service board in latest bid to tighten executive powers
Trump Announces Deal to ‘Substantially Lower the Price of Ground Beef’
Chinese Man Charged with Illegally Voting in US Election and Trying to Frame Someone Else
Vance unloads on El-Sayed over Sharia remarks: ‘That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party’
Spencer released his own statement that reads: ‘Through my Title Ten Authority, I have strived to ensure our proceedings are fair, transparent and consistent, from the newest recruit to the Flag and General Officer level.
‘Unfortunately, it has become apparent that in this respect, I no longer share the same understanding with the Commander in Chief who appointed me, in regards to the key principle of good order and discipline.
‘I cannot in good conscience obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took in the presence of my family, my flag and my faith to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.’
Spencer added: ‘The President deserves and should expect a Secretary of the Navy who is aligned with his vision for the future of our force generation and sustainment.
‘Therefore with pride in the achievements we’ve shared, and everlasting faith in the continued service and fidelity of the finest Sailors, Marines and civilian teammates on earth, I hereby acknowledge my termination as United States Secretary of the Navy, to be effective immediately.’
Earlier on Sunday, a senior official said that the White House had given the green light to proceed with the review as planned on Friday, the day after Trump tweeted that the Navy ‘will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin’.
The Navy responded to the president’s tweet by saying that it would be awaiting further guidance, and Spencer remarked that he did not consider the tweet to be a formal order.
Trump to honor Artemis II astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history
Trump fires back after protester interrupts Myrtle Beach rally for Graham: ‘Mom is voting for us’
More Westerners Waking up to Islam as Gov’t Bans Face Coverings, Leaving Both Muslims and (Ironically) Feminists Angry
Trump rally security ejects protester wearing ‘kill your local pedophile’ shirt
Candace Cameron Bure Tears Up on Air Over Constant Criticism, But God Provided a Literally Perfect Smile Through the Pain
Fauci’s lawyers launch legal defense fund as federal, state investigations mount against him
‘Escalating Pressures’ from the FCC Have Impacted ‘The View’s’ Guest List: Disney Lawsuit
Late-night bull run ends with a little cowboy know-how on busy California highway
They Never Learn: NYT Ordered to Pay $9 Million After Falsely Linking Innocent Student to 2023 Murder
New Jersey mother allegedly drunk when boat hit channel marker on Memorial Day, killing her son
Texas Gov Abbott asks the Justice Department to investigate ‘discriminatory’ Islamic washing stations
DOJ says Rubio should have final say over Foreign Service board in latest bid to tighten executive powers
Trump Announces Deal to ‘Substantially Lower the Price of Ground Beef’
Chinese Man Charged with Illegally Voting in US Election and Trying to Frame Someone Else
Vance unloads on El-Sayed over Sharia remarks: ‘That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party’
Spencer and SEAL commander Rear Admiral Collin Green both reportedly threatened to resign if Trump halted the review.
Gallagher was acquitted of murder in the detainee’s death in July, and sentenced to a demotion in rank and pay grade, but not prison time.
Trump intervened in the case last week, ordering the Navy to restore Gallagher’s rank and pay and clearing the way for him to retire on a full pension.
But Navy brass notified Gallagher this week that a five-member panel of fellow Navy commandos would convene next month to review his case and recommend whether he is fit to remain in the SEALs.
Gallagher filed a complaint with the inspector general accusing Rear Adm Collin Green – the Naval Special Warfare commander – of insubordination for defying Trump’s actions.
The Navy responded with a statement saying it would follow ‘lawful orders’ from the president to halt the review but was awaiting further guidance, suggesting his Twitter post was not considered a formal directive.
Removing the Trident pins means Gallagher will no longer be a SEAL but could remain in the Navy.
The Navy has revoked 154 Trident pins since 2011.
Story cited here.
