Give back those medals
Navy officials said Wednesday they are pulling achievement medals from prosecutors who argued the case against a decorated Navy SEAL who was acquitted in the death of a wounded Islamic State captive after President Donald Trump intervened.
Trump tweeted earlier Wednesday that he had directed the secretary of the Navy and the chief of naval operations to “immediately withdraw and rescind” the Navy Achievement Medal from prosecutors who argued the case against Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted by military jurors earlier this month. “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,” Trump complained, adding, “I am very happy for Eddie Gallagher and his family!”
And so it was done.
Navy spokesman Cdr. Jereal Dorsey said that on Wednesday, after Trump’s tweet, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer rescinded the awards. As secretary, he has that authority, Dorsey said.
The move appeared to be a highly unusual presidential intervention in a case Trump had personally championed and drew immediate condemnation. Former Pentagon spokesman David Lapan, a retired Marine colonel, said the move represented the “further politicization of our military” and was a “ludicrous” move “in the face of so many more important and pressing personnel issues.”
Dictators gotta dic.
Richard Spencer? Not that Richard Spencer, but still
Unfortunate name is unfortunate. Also, remember when ‘we don’t take official orders via tweet’ was the state of affairs? That’s over, now.
Trump can assign or withhold military honors? Trump can dictate whether a prisoner is held in solitary confinement?
Are these awards specific to their service prosecuting Gallagher, or is he trying to erase their careers for revenge?
(checking) Yes the awards were for their work on the trial…perhaps a reward for NOT getting a conviction?