Trump says he'll review case of Matt Golsteyn, a Special Forces veteran who faces murder charge

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

By Dan Lamothe December 16 at 11:12 AM

President Trump tweeted Sunday that he will review the case of a former Special Forces officer and Afghanistan war veteran who was notified last week that he will face a murder charge in the death of a detainee suspected of being a Taliban bombmaker.

Former Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn was notified Thursday by the Army that he will face one charge of murder, his attorney and the Army said. The military has been investigating him since 2011, when Army officials said he confessed during a polygraph test as part of a CIA job interview to killing the suspected bombmaker in February 2010.

“At the request of many, I will be reviewing the case of a ‘U.S. Military hero,’ Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder,” Trump tweeted. “He could face the death penalty from our own government after he admitted to killing a Terrorist bomb maker while overseas.”

It wasn’t clear Sunday what Trump’s “review” could comprise, or if he is considering pardoning Golsteyn if the Army convicts him of murder. The case is still under investigation, with a hearing expected next year to review evidence in the case.

-snip-


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2018/12/16/trump-says-hell-review-case-matt-golsteyn-special-forces-veteran-who-faces-murder-charge/

[BootinUp]

1. So he fancies himself as a merciful king. Nt

[lark]

6. Nope, he adores murderers of minorities.

That's why he's considering pardoning him.

[BootinUp]

7. You win. Nt

[iluvtennis]

18. Exactly.

[Honeycombe8]

19. Note that the decedent was only "suspected" of being a bomb maker.

But I don't know enough of the details.

Suffice to say, this is a whistle call to his base that he's going to pull strings so the man isn't charged with murder, whether he did the deed or not. We all know Trump doesn't "review" anything. His gut just tells him what to do and is better than any court of law or facts or information.

[mr_lebowski]

2. Yes, Donny, by all means let's tell the world the Geneva Convention means nothing

to the United States anymore, by just pardoning people in our Armed Forces who arbitrarily murder POW's (presumably a non-convicted POW at that, hence the words 'detainee' and 'suspected' in the article).

That would set a GREAT PRECEDENT, Donny-boy.

But I guess, hey, YOU didn't sign that UNFAIR Geneva treaty-thing, so why should YOU, Donald the Great and Wise ... have to abide by it?

That about right, shithead?

As an aside, NO WAY is the guy going to get the death penalty for this.

[JohnnyRingo]

10. no death penalty.

The first thing I thought after reading this tweet was how Trump figures it's a capital case. Like the president, I'm no lawyer, but I'm also not an idiot.

[OnlinePoker]

14. Not a Prisoner of War under the Third Geneva Convention

This is probably why they use detainee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Geneva_Convention

I also see that while you get your ire up over a perceived violation of international law, you seem perfectly willing to call someone a murderer who, not only hasn't been convicted but hasn't even had one day in court yet.

[mr_lebowski]

15. I'm assuming he's not going to be pardoned unless actually convicted ...

My bad for not being clear on that point.

That being said ...

"The military has been investigating him since 2011, when Army officials said he confessed during a polygraph test as part of a CIA job interview to killing the suspected bombmaker in February 2010."

Does that sound like a situation where it's LIKELY he didn't do it?

No matter what, Trump shouldn't be sticking his nose into this, at LEAST until the trial happens. It's a bullshit interference in the legal process, undermining the prosecutors, potentially making them feel like their efforts are for naught anyway.

Also the US USES THE TERM DETAINEE to PURPOSEFULLY get out of being held accountable to the Convention. Remember?

[EX500rider]

22. Actually no, fighting out of uniform like the Taliban does not offer you GC POW protection.

In fact they would just shot you on the spot for that in WWII.

[yardwork]

3. Squirrel!

[Freedomofspeech]

4. Golsteyn's wife was one of my students...

I unfriended her years ago on Facebook because she would post the most horrible things about President Obama. Sorry...no sympathy here.

[dalton99a]

9. Good info.

[pwb]

5. He lost a lot of veterans with his disrespect. This token move won't help.

If he does pardon him. Vets i know hate him.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. The "review" should last all of ten seconds.

"Was the victim a white citizen of the US?"

"Not guilty, give this hero a medal"

[Rural_Progressive]

11. Base. base, base, play to the base

Base. base, base, play to the base
Base. base, base, play to the base
Base. base, base, play to the base

Kinda' simple, repetitive, and you can dance to it. Should resonate with the mouth breathers who are with us always.

[oldlibdem]

13. Exactly!

Just placating the deplorables.

[Corgigal]

12. But so much reading.

He won't do it, or cant. Someone verbally telling you wants in the folders don't count.

You have to do your own work, which you won't.

[BadGimp]

16. More read meat for the Right Wing "Kill E'm All" crowd

Someone on Fox News must have said something while Donny Two Scoops was watching.

[soryang]

17. This is a form of command influence

A president as commander in chief, should keep his mouth shut about criminal cases:

"Trump’s statement alone could complicate the military’s prosecution of Golsteyn. The president, as commander in chief, is expected in the military justice system to not make statements that could influence open cases. Doing so is considered unlawful command influence and can result in cases being thrown out."

It taints the referral process, taints the courts-martial, and the panel.

[Cryptoad]

20. The Trumpster will,,,

probably give him a Congressional Metal of Honor,too, they gave 20 CMH's to the soldiers that slaughtered unarmed Native American women and children at the Wounded Knee Massacre in the 1890's,,,,,,ah'o

[Scruffy1]

21. i'm sure he won't even read the case.

He's too lazy to study anything and of course the President has no power in Miltary Justice except the pardon power. It's just a sop to crazy right wingers. I'm sure the upper brass will be pissed about him meddling in their jurisdiction, but they won't say it.