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Trump says he'll review case of Matt Golsteyn, a Special Forces veteran who faces murder charge
Source: Washington Post
Trump says he’ll review case of Matt Golsteyn, a Special Forces veteran who faces murder charge
The Army veteran is accused of killing an alleged Taliban bombmaker without permission.
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.
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.
-snip-
The Army veteran is accused of killing an alleged Taliban bombmaker without permission.
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.
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.
-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/