US Navy Chief Richard Spencer fired over SEAL commando controversy
US President Donald Trump chucked out Navy Chief Richard Spencer over a dispute relating to a Navy Seal Commando demotion on charges of committing war crimes.
- World News
- 3 min read
US President Donald Trump fired Navy Chief Richard Spencer over a dispute relating to a Navy Seal Commando demotion on charges of committing war crimes. According to the reports, Spencer was fired in a case that Trump had angered the top officials in the US military for interfering in cases related to improper behaviour.
Discord between Trump, Spencer
....contracting procedures were not addressed to my satisfaction. Therefore, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer’s services have been terminated by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. I thank Richard for his service & commitment. Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2019
In a letter that was published by the local media outlets, Spencer stated that he no longer shared the same views with his Commander in Chief, in relation to the major factors governing order and discipline and tendered his resignation as the United States Secretary of the Navy.
US Defence Secretary, Mark Esper, said that he had Spencer to step down after losing trust and confidence in him regarding his lack of honesty in relation to the conversations he had with the White House. He further added that Spencer's conduct had deeply troubled him.
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The incident focuses on Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher who had been charged for committing war crimes but was later found guilty of a much lesser offence. However, Donald Trump who is also the commander in chief of the US military reversed the decision that was initially taken to decide Gallagher's fate.
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Gallagher to retire
Trump had posted a tweet saying that the SEAL has suffered unfair treatment at the hands of the Navy and that Richard Spencer had been asked to step down over an apparent failure to acknowledge budget overruns. Trump also said that he would not be court-martialed from the forces and added that Gallagher will retire with dignity and the honours that he has earned.
I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s trial was handled by the Navy. He was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddie’s rank. Likewise, large cost overruns from past administration’s.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2019
Gallagher was subject to allegations that he had stabbed an Islamic State prisoner in Iraq in 2017 and was also accused of attempting to murder other civilians and causing obstruction of Justice and because of that, he was demoted from the rank of a chief petty officer to a petty officer first class. However, he was cleared of the previous accusations but was charged for posing with the body of an extremist fighter in a group picture with other SEAL's.
(With inputs from agencies)