The decorated Navy SEAL accused of murdering a 15-year-old ISIS prisoner reportedly has a California congressman in his corner — who has called on President Trump to step in and dismiss the case.
“I have personally reviewed Chief Petty Officer Gallagher’s case thoroughly and my staff has met with his family and remained in consistent communication,” explained Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) in a statement to local media outlets.
“Chief Gallagher stands accused of murder in the killing of a verified ISIS combatant in a warzone based on inconsistent testimony and without any physical evidence,” he said. “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.”
Edward GallagherAPSpecial Operations Chief Edward Gallagher pleaded not guilty on Friday to premeditated murder in connection with the 2017 stabbing of the ISIS teen, along with other war crimes.
The Bronze Star recipient was arraigned at Naval Base San Diego, according to his attorney Phil Stackhouse, who alleges that his client was being falsely accused by disgruntled SEALs who disliked him. He has been jailed since his Sept. 11 arrest and is scheduled to stand trial between Feb. 19 and March 1.
Hunter — a former Marine who was indicted last August on federal charges for campaign finance violations — claimed Friday that he received reports saying Gallagher was “being confined to the brig where, allegedly, he has not been provided with quality access to medical care, mental health services or legal representation.”
“If true, it is completely unacceptable and, without hesitation, I will introduce legislation to ensure this situation is not repeated,” Hunter said. “South American criminal illegal aliens are provided with better access to legal representation than our nation’s elite warriors because bureaucratic lawyers in the Navy justice system see this situation as an opportunity to make their name and advance their career.”
Discussing Gallagher’s time as a SEAL, Hunter said: “Those who have served with him in combat describe him as nothing less than an American hero.”
“I am significantly concerned that this is another example of the over-aggressiveness of the Navy JAG Corp showing its bias against our warfighters,” the congressman added. “Due to verifiable political nature of the Navy’s justice system, I believe that Chief Gallagher’s matter needs to be taken away from the Navy and President Trump himself needs to personally review and dismiss this case, taking an American hero out of a prison cell and back on the front lines where he belongs.”
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