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| Trump tweets on Seal case are not formal orders, US navy secretary says | Trump tweets on Seal case are not formal orders, US navy secretary says |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| President touts Edward Gallagher appearance on Fox & Friends but disciplinary procedure over Isis corpse case set to continue | President touts Edward Gallagher appearance on Fox & Friends but disciplinary procedure over Isis corpse case set to continue |
| Amid controversy over Donald Trump’s intervention in the case of Edward Gallagher, a Navy Seal convicted for posing with the corpse of an Isis fighter in Iraq, US navy secretary Richard Spencer said he did not view a presidential tweet as a formal order necessary to halt a review of the sailor’s conduct. | |
| “I need a formal order to act,” Spencer reportedly said at a security conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Saturday. “I don’t interpret [tweets] as a formal order.” | “I need a formal order to act,” Spencer reportedly said at a security conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Saturday. “I don’t interpret [tweets] as a formal order.” |
| On Saturday the New York Times reported that Spencer and the head of the elite Seals force had threatened to resign over Trump’s interference, though Spencer later denied it. On Sunday, it was widely reported that the White House had confirmed it would not stop disciplinary proceedings against Gallagher. | |
| Gallagher was acquitted of a murder charge related to the 2017 stabbing death of the Isis fighter, but was demoted in rank. Trump intervened in the case last week, ordering the navy to restore Gallagher’s pay and rank, a move which would allow him to retire with a full pension. | Gallagher was acquitted of a murder charge related to the 2017 stabbing death of the Isis fighter, but was demoted in rank. Trump intervened in the case last week, ordering the navy to restore Gallagher’s pay and rank, a move which would allow him to retire with a full pension. |
| Several days later, however, the navy told Gallagher five fellow commandos would meet on 2 December for a disciplinary proceeding which would recommend whether he is fit to remain a Seal. Three officers who supervised Gallagher were also reported to be facing review. | Several days later, however, the navy told Gallagher five fellow commandos would meet on 2 December for a disciplinary proceeding which would recommend whether he is fit to remain a Seal. Three officers who supervised Gallagher were also reported to be facing review. |
| Trump reacted angrily, tweeting: “The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin [the badge denoting qualification for the elite force]. This case was handled very badly from the beginning. Get back to business!” | Trump reacted angrily, tweeting: “The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin [the badge denoting qualification for the elite force]. This case was handled very badly from the beginning. Get back to business!” |
| Gallagher’s attorneys alleged navy officials were pushing to strip Gallagher’s Seal designation in retaliation for Trump reinstating his rank. Gallagher reportedly submitted a complaint, accusing Seal commander Rear Adm Collin Green of insubordination for defying the president’s actions. | Gallagher’s attorneys alleged navy officials were pushing to strip Gallagher’s Seal designation in retaliation for Trump reinstating his rank. Gallagher reportedly submitted a complaint, accusing Seal commander Rear Adm Collin Green of insubordination for defying the president’s actions. |
| On Saturday Spencer addressed the Times report which said he and Green had threatened to quit, telling reporters: “Contrary to popular belief, I am still here. I did not threaten to resign. But let us just say we are here to talk about external threats and Eddie Gallagher is not one of them.” | On Saturday Spencer addressed the Times report which said he and Green had threatened to quit, telling reporters: “Contrary to popular belief, I am still here. I did not threaten to resign. But let us just say we are here to talk about external threats and Eddie Gallagher is not one of them.” |
| The navy secretary did note, however, that if Trump formally requested the disciplinary process should stop, it would stop. | The navy secretary did note, however, that if Trump formally requested the disciplinary process should stop, it would stop. |
| “Good order and discipline is also obeying the orders of the president of the United States,” he said. “The president of the United States is the commander in chief. He’s involved in every aspect of government and he can make decisions and give orders as appropriate.” | “Good order and discipline is also obeying the orders of the president of the United States,” he said. “The president of the United States is the commander in chief. He’s involved in every aspect of government and he can make decisions and give orders as appropriate.” |
| On Sunday, Trump continued to tweet his support for Gallagher. | |
| “Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher will be on [Fox & Friends] this morning at 7.30am,” he wrote. “Have no fear, all will end well for everyone!” | “Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher will be on [Fox & Friends] this morning at 7.30am,” he wrote. “Have no fear, all will end well for everyone!” |
| Appearing on the president’s favourite Fox News show, Gallagher doubled down on his allegation that navy officials were retaliating against him. | Appearing on the president’s favourite Fox News show, Gallagher doubled down on his allegation that navy officials were retaliating against him. |
| “They could have taken my Trident at any time they wanted,” he said. “Now they’re trying to take it after the president restored my rank.” | “They could have taken my Trident at any time they wanted,” he said. “Now they’re trying to take it after the president restored my rank.” |
| Gallagher also said he wanted to retire on 30 November “with all the honors that I’ve earned, get back to my family”. | Gallagher also said he wanted to retire on 30 November “with all the honors that I’ve earned, get back to my family”. |
| Neither Gallagher’s lawyer nor the navy responded to requests for comment. | Neither Gallagher’s lawyer nor the navy responded to requests for comment. |
| Trump has supported other service members implicated in wrongdoing. On the day he restored Gallagher’s rank, he also pardoned two US army soldiers. One was scheduled to go on trial in 2020 for allegedly killing a suspected Afghan bomb-maker. The other was convicted of murder after commanding subordinates to open fire on three Afghans, resulting in two deaths. | Trump has supported other service members implicated in wrongdoing. On the day he restored Gallagher’s rank, he also pardoned two US army soldiers. One was scheduled to go on trial in 2020 for allegedly killing a suspected Afghan bomb-maker. The other was convicted of murder after commanding subordinates to open fire on three Afghans, resulting in two deaths. |
| Announcing Gallagher’s rank restoration and the two pardons, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the president was charged with making sure the law was upheld and that “mercy is granted” when appropriate. | Announcing Gallagher’s rank restoration and the two pardons, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the president was charged with making sure the law was upheld and that “mercy is granted” when appropriate. |
| “For more than 200 years, presidents have used their authority to offer second chances to deserving individuals, including those in uniform who have served our country,” she said. “These actions are in keeping with this long history.” | “For more than 200 years, presidents have used their authority to offer second chances to deserving individuals, including those in uniform who have served our country,” she said. “These actions are in keeping with this long history.” |
| Trump has repeatedly bemoaned the fate of US service members accused or convicted of wrongdoing on the battlefield. | Trump has repeatedly bemoaned the fate of US service members accused or convicted of wrongdoing on the battlefield. |
| “Some of these soldiers are people that have fought hard and long,” he said in May. “You know, we teach them how to be great fighters, and then when they fight sometimes they get really treated very unfairly.” | “Some of these soldiers are people that have fought hard and long,” he said in May. “You know, we teach them how to be great fighters, and then when they fight sometimes they get really treated very unfairly.” |