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Trump Set To Pardon Navy SEAL Accused Of Committing Horrific War Crimes And Threatening To Murder Witnesses
The Trump administration requested paperwork from the Justice Department to pardon service members who are known to have committed war crimes.
According to the New York Times, among those who will be pardoned on or around Memorial Day is Navy SEAL, Chief Eddie Gallagher.
In 2017, Gallagher was accused of killing a 15-year-old ISIS fighter who was wounded.
Gallagher disrupted a SEAL medic tending to the wounded teen and attacked the defenseless Islamic State fighter with a hunting knife.
The chief made a show of his brutal act and shared a picture of the body with a fellow SEAL member.
This is the profile of a man the president wants to pardon, and the precedence he is setting is deeply concerning.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) asked Trump to dismiss Gallagher's case and said the accusations of murder were "based on inconsistent testimony and without any physical evidence."
In a January statement, Hunter added:
"It is important to remember that this ISIS combatant was engaged in an extensive firefight with Chief Gallagher's team and was already significantly injured when captured. No credible evidence has been provided that this ISIS fighter was murdered as opposed to dying from his terrorist actions."
Trump already showed his support for Gallagher by suggesting the navy SEAL be transferred from pretrial confinement to a "less restrictive environment," according to Task and Purpose.
The president could additionally pardon former Special Forces Maj. Matthew Golsteyn, who admitted to killing an unarmed suspected Taliban bomb-maker; Nicholas Slatten, a former Blackwater guard who was found guilty of shooting unarmed Iraqis; and Marine Scout Snipers who allegedly urinated on Taliban corpses.
Tim Parlatore, Gallagher's civilian attorney told Task and Purpose he will continue working on the case.
"Our primary desire is for Chief Gallagher to go home to his family. Chief Gallagher is innocent of these charges and we are still preparing to exonerate him in court."
Parlatore added, however, that a pardon would greatly be appreciated for the sake of the family.
"However, if the president chooses either through a pardon or dismissal to end this nightmare early and send Chief Gallagher home to his family, he would be eternally grateful."
Chief Gallagher's trial is scheduled for May 28.