Trump Orders Navy to Strip Medals From Prosecutors who tried that Navy Seal on war crimes

[Demovictory9]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/us/politics/trump-navy-seal-war-crimes.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage

WASHINGTON — President Trump intervened Tuesday once again on behalf of a Navy SEAL who was charged but acquitted of war crimes in the death of a captured Islamic State fighter in Iraq, ordering the military to punish the prosecutors who tried the case in the first place.

Mr. Trump angrily lashed out at the Navy for awarding commendations to prosecutors in the murder trial of Edward Gallagher, a former special operations chief, and he publicly instructed Pentagon officials to strip them of the medals. His announcement was a remarkable rebuke by a president of his own Navy leadership.

“The Prosecutors who lost the case against SEAL Eddie Gallagher (who I released from solitary confinement so he could fight his case properly), were ridiculously given a Navy Achievement Medal,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “Not only did they lose the case, they had difficulty with respect to information that may have been obtained from opposing lawyers and for giving immunity in a totally incompetent fashion.”

He added: “I have directed the Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer & Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson to immediately withdraw and rescind the awards. I am very happy for Eddie Gallagher and his family!”

[procon]

1. That's not right.

Trump's sending a bad message to everyone in the military. Not to mention he's making a mockery of the law.

[rampartc]

2. prosecutors in a court martial are ordered as a military assignment

I would not think they do it for the medals either.

in my experience medals are awarded when things go mostly wrong.

[Tiggeroshii]

4. Navy achievement medal doesn't seem like n especially high medal either

To rescind it is like rescinding one of those gold certificates that you get in elementary school because you didn't punch your friend in the face this time...

[rampartc]

5. in this case it is a "participation trophy"

awarded to let these guys know that despite draft dodger in chief's interference with the chain of command. the prosecutors ' careers are still on track.

are their careers still on track? only time will tell. I see nothing that they did wrong, but I can see the day that one is up for promotion. if "fox and friends" mentions that he was a prosecutor in the gallager case it might inspire a tweet from the oval orifice demanding resignation instead.

[Tiggeroshii]

11. Yeah. I got an achievement award the day after I almost got in trouble for something.

I literally thought I was going to have a ucmj thing thrown at me, but instead they gave me that.

[rampartc]

13. one ships xo called me to his office

I was sure it was bad news.

"the captain and I could not agree to discipline you in public, so here is a navy achievement medal. "

there was a little write up saying that I pretty much usually showed up for work. yay for me

[sakabatou]

3. Guess he likes those who commit war crimes too

[mr_lebowski]

6. The granting of immunity to the medic is exactly what saved Gallagher's ass ... Trump doesn't grasp

any part of this whole thing, other than that Fox wanted Gallagher to skate, and said bad things about Navy Prosecutors who tried him, so now Trump is trying to act in a way that pleases certain Fox personalities, never mind the consequences.

This sets an absolutely TERRIBLE precedent, in so many ways ... but then, Trump LOVES to make horrible, dangerous decisions that endanger and undermine the security of the USA.

His Master Putin is laughing his ass off ...

[stopdiggin]

7. would really like to think

that this would lead to some backlash within the ranks, if only in private. The infantile and dictatorial meddling has to be humiliating. (and a little disconcerting, if you entertain any thought processes) Unfortunately .. I don't think I'll hold my breath

[rainin]

8. Me either. Sad.

[Ilsa]

9. Trump obstructs justice to get his way. nt

[dalton99a]

10. A great headline that captures the essence of the monster

[Tipperary]

12. Meanwhile, the SEALS are in trouble over their shenanigans in other countries.

Sorry I do not have a link, but it was all over CNN this morning.