Trump To Pardon For Eddie Gallagher, Navy SEAL Charged With War Crimes

by Alessa ErawanMay 26, 2019, 10:27 amDaily Digest, Home Featured, News, News Feed, Trump News >

President Donald Trump is preparing to pardon a Navy SEAL who was accused of war crimes.

Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher is one of a number of service members accused or convicted of war crimes whom Trump may e pardoning. The Trump administration has requested background paperwork on the men for possible pardons by Memorial Day.

Gallagher is charged with firing on civilians in Iraq in 2017 and fatally stabbing a wounded teenage ISIS fighter. He allegedly bragged about the number of his civilian kills and threatened members of his SEAL team if they reported him. He has pleaded not guilty.

Gallagher’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, was quite surprised to hear about Trump’s action and said his client would ideally be acquitted at his trial.

Trump could announce a pardon for Gallagher even before his scheduled trial begins on May 28. Other SEAL team members are still scheduled to testify against him.

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Several veterans have spoken out against this possible pardoning.

This is not the first time Trump’s pardons came under fire. Earlier this month, he issued a pardon for former Army First Lt. Michael Behenna, who drove an Iraqi prisoner into the desert in 2008, stripped and fatally shot him. Behenna was convicted and was already serving a reduced when the president pardoned him.