Navy SEAL Chief Eddie Gallagher is accusing Navy Secretary Richard Spencer of interfering with his case.
“Just recently, we’ve come up with more evidence that we’ll be exposing next week that the secretary of the Navy was actually meddling in my case and trying to get organizations not to support me while I was incarcerated,” Gallagher said on a Sunday interview on Fox & Friends.
Gallagher’s attorney Timothy Parlatore told Task & Purpose on Sunday that Spencer allegedly “personally interfered in efforts to get Chief Gallagher competent legal counsel.”
A spokeswoman for Spencer declined to comment on Sunday.
Task & Purpose has confirmed that plans are moving forward to have Gallagher and three other SEALs appear before a review board next month which will recommend whether to revoke their SEAL tridents. The final decision will be made by Rear Adm. Collin Green, head of Naval Special Warfare Command.
Gordon Lubold and Nancy Youssef of the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that President Donald Trump has allowed the Navy to hold the proceedings even though the president tweeted a few days ago, The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin.”
Spencer told reporters on Saturday that he would halt the review board if he received a written order from Trump to do so.
“If the president requests that the process stop, the process stops,” Spencer said. “Good order and discipline is also obeying orders from the president of the United States.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
When Trump tweeted on Sunday that Gallagher would appear on Fox & Friends, he added: “Have no fear, all will end well for everyone!”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1198574811678683137
On Fox & Friends, Gallagher accused Green of retaliating against him by trying to take away his SEAL trident.
“What the admiral is doing, showing complete insubordination, is not the good example of good order and discipline,” Gallagher said.
When asked about Gallagher’s comments, a spokeswoman for Naval Special Warfare Command deferred to an earlier Navy statement, which said the service is awaiting further guidance.