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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.
It seems that Trump may pardon several U.S. military members accused or convicted of war crimes—including high-prof… https://t.co/KyDbU5CR1p— Jamil Smith (@Jamil Smith) 1558218004.0
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.
May 2017, a SEAL medic was treating a wounded 15 y/o Islamic State fighter. “He’s mine,” Gallagher said. “Gallagher… https://t.co/BlZ4lGK9J9— Scott Hechinger (@Scott Hechinger) 1558225106.0
He didn’t even try to hide the murder of the 15 y/o. He brought other seals around minutes later & took a photo ove… https://t.co/F2Jhl2HcEG— Scott Hechinger (@Scott Hechinger) 1558225258.0
SEAL team 7 members filed formal complaints & called for an investigation about the “shocking acts” they had seen t… https://t.co/4nLCNBYm3Y— Scott Hechinger (@Scott Hechinger) 1558226050.0
Gallagher for his part, didn’t like all the snitching going on. Texts: “I just got word these guys went crying to… https://t.co/CMVuUrVdDr— Scott Hechinger (@Scott Hechinger) 1558226124.0
This is the kind of guy Trump has sympathy for. And will likely pardon. A war criminal, who mass murdered Muslim pe… https://t.co/UC9NwDMLap— Scott Hechinger (@Scott Hechinger) 1558226608.0
This is the profile of a man the president wants to pardon, and the precedence he is setting is deeply concerning.
Special operations chief Gallagher was reported by his own squad for stabbing a defenseless teenage captive to deat… https://t.co/QPYqaKHfuC— Mathew Ingram (@Mathew Ingram) 1558218677.0
This is absolutely sickening. That there is a political constituency ready to embrace this is even worse. Trump Sho… https://t.co/tC5ZpYep32— Michael Hanna (@Michael Hanna) 1558226820.0
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.
@JamilSmith Using it as a political pawn for his base, so he can say he cares about the military.— rmac (@rmac) 1558235028.0
@MommaX3inCA @JamilSmith @realDonaldTrump He doesnt. I'm a vet. He's literally done nothing for the military or vet… https://t.co/7WriYgO3xz— rmac (@rmac) 1558238121.0
Been clear for a while a Gallagher pardon was coming, but still profoundly depressing. One of those moments you wan… https://t.co/4LZVCdoxqj— Matthew Miller (@Matthew Miller) 1558222836.0
@matthewamiller Americans abroad need to be extra vigilant in light of these coming pardons, and any captured soldi… https://t.co/xqbGN8m7rS— Old Salt (@Old Salt) 1558225476.0
If a jury were to acquit Gallagher, then so be it. Fair trials and due process aren't always pretty. But the idea o… https://t.co/p4XgCvMRWe— Asher Langton (@Asher Langton) 1558221692.0
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.
Trump is also considering pardoning: Green Beret Mathew Golsteyn, accused of killing an unarmed civilian; Nicholas… https://t.co/YLuD3I5s6V— Scott Hechinger (@Scott Hechinger) 1558227971.0
@nytimes Non violent, first time offenders of color rot in jail, while cis white men who committed war crimes, incl… https://t.co/iLTrI2hfaT— Panser 🍑🌿✨ (@Panser 🍑🌿✨) 1558268155.0
@nytimes This makes me sick. It's a slap in the face to all military personnel who do their duty with honor often u… https://t.co/nzvyhx5wHQ— enough (@enough) 1558215911.0
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.