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US Navy Secretary FIRED by Pentagon chief in wake of Gallagher scandal Pentagon chief fires US Navy Secretary over SEAL scandal, says Gallagher to keep his Trident pin
(30 minutes later)
US Navy Secretary Richard Spencer has been fired in wake of the Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher controversy in which the White House has waded. The Pentagon asked Spencer to resign over "loss of confidence." US Navy Secretary Richard Spencer has been fired in wake of the Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher controversy, which the White House has waded into. Siding with President Donald Trump, the Pentagon chief said Gallagher will keep his pin.
"I am deeply troubled by this conduct shown by a senior DOD official," US Defense Secretary Mike Esper said in a statement Sunday, referring to the Spencer’s handling of the Gallagher case."I am deeply troubled by this conduct shown by a senior DOD official," US Defense Secretary Mike Esper said in a statement Sunday, referring to the Spencer’s handling of the Gallagher case.
"Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position. I wish Richard well," he added."Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position. I wish Richard well," he added.
In a statement carried by the DOD, Esper is said to have been dissatisfied with the “lack of candor over the conversations with the White House” the Navy chief apparently had behind his back.
Spencer was attempting to persuade the White House to steer clear of the Gallagher saga after the meeting with US President Donald Trump and Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Friday, the statement revealed.
Noting that Esper was effectively blindsided by the Navy Secretary, the Pentagon said that “disciplinary and fitness for duty actions...should be allowed to play itself out objectively and deliberately in fairness to all parties.”
Nevertherless, “given the events of the last few days,” Esper decided that Gallagher should keep his Trident pin, the statement reads.
Navy’s ‘insubordination’ to Trump?
US Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who is at the center of the scandal, on Sunday launched a vicious attack on his superiors, claiming they were seeking revenge, not justice – and accusing them of “insubordination” to the US President.
Gallagher appeared on Fox & Friends on Sunday, sharing his views about his trial and the prospects of him getting kicked from the SEALs. The interview had been teased on Twitter by none other than – and Gallagher did not disappoint his Commander-in-Chief, launching a bitter attack on his Navy superiors. 
Gallagher accused Spencer of “meddling” in his case and Rear Adm. Collin Green – of “showing complete insubordination” to Trump. He claimed that Navy’s plan to carry out Trident review – that might potentially result in expelling from the SEALs – “is all about ego and retaliation,” adding that all what he wanted now was to retire from the military in peace. 
Gallagher was accused of committing war crimes during his 2017 deployment to Iraq – including shooting at civilians and stabbing a wounded prisoner – and was court-martialed a year later on seven charges. He was ultimately acquitted of all but one – the court found him guilty of taking a photo with a corpse and demoted him one rank.
The sentence, however, was challenged by Trump, who was a vocal supporter of Gallagher during and after his court-martial. Trump reinstated him in his rank last week, while pardoning two other soldiers accused of committing war crimes.
In a statement carried by the DOD, Esper is said to have been dissatisfied with the “lack of candor over the conversations with the White House,” the Navy chief apparently had behind his back. Spencer attempted to persuade White House officials to talk Trump out of meddling in the Gallagher case shortly before the commander-in-chief fired back on Thursday tweeting that “Navy will NOT be taking away” Gallagher’s Triden insignia, the Washington Post reported.
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