WASHINGTON: Richard Spencer was ousted as Navy Secretary, a civilianposition, in a case that has fueled reports of anger among US militaryleadership over Trump´s interference in discipline cases.
“I no longer share the same understanding with the Commander in Chief whoappointed me, in regards to the key principles of good order anddiscipline,” Spencer said in a stinging letter published by US media.
“I hereby acknowledge my termination as United States Secretary of theNavy.”
The dispute centers on the fate of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher who wasaccused of war crimes in a high-profile case but was found guilty of alesser offense.
On November 15, Trump — the commander-in-chief of the US military –reversed the demotion handed down to Gallagher.
Trump tweeted on Sunday that Gallagher had been “treated very badly” by thenavy, and that Spencer had been asked to resign over the issue and over hisalleged failure to address budget overruns.
The president said Gallagher would not be expelled from the elite SEALforce.
“Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned,”Trump tweeted.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he had asked for Spencer´s resignation”after losing trust and confidence in him regarding his lack of candor overconversations with the White House,” the Department of Defense said in astatement.
Esper said he was “deeply troubled by this conduct.”
– Trump undercuts military? –
The US Navy had launched a discipline procedure which could have stripGallagher and three other members of his unit of their prestigious “Tridentpins” — effectively booting them from the SEAL force.
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But the intervention of Trump appeared to cut short that process.
Trump this month also dismissed a second degree murder conviction againstArmy First Lieutenant Clint Lorance, who was six years into a 19-year termfor ordering soldiers in 2012 to fire on three unarmed Afghan men on amotorcycle, two of whom died.
And he granted clemency to West Point graduate Matt Golsteyn, an ex-memberof the elite US Army Green Berets, charged with premeditated murder in theshooting death of an alleged Taliban bomb-maker in 2010.
Gallagher, a Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, and Land) commando, was accused in thestabbing to death of a wounded Islamic State prisoner in Iraq in 2017,attempted murder of other civilians and obstruction of justice.
In July, he was acquitted of charges related to those accusations but wasconvicted of posing with the slain fighter´s body in a group picture withother SEALs.
As a result, he was demoted one rank, from chief petty officer to pettyofficer first class.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Gallagher accused the navy of acting inretaliation after he lodged a complaint.
“They could have taken my Trident (pin) at any time they wanted,” he said.”Now they´re trying to take it after the president restored my rank.”
Gallagher´s case has been strongly championed by Fox News and Trump´sconservative base, but it has also drawn criticism that the president wasundermining military judicial process. – APP / AFP
