Trump gives pardons to 3
Brass ignored as Prez helps men accused of war crimes
President Trump ignored the advice of military leaders Friday by pardoning military men accused of war crimes — including an Army commando charged with slaying a suspected Afghan bomb-maker, and an Army lieutenant serving 19 years for ordering a soldier to fire on unarmed Afghan men, killing two.
Trump also pardoned a decorated Navy SEAL who posed in a photo with the corpse of an Islamic State captive.
Trump’s decision substitutes his judgment for that of hIgh-ranking military officials who sought to prosecute and punish the three troops.
“The President, as Commanderin-Chief, is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the law is enforced and when appropriate, that mercy is granted,” the White House said in a statement.
“For more than two hundred years, presidents have used their authority to offer second chances to deserving individuals, including those in uniform who have served our country.”
Pardoned were Army Lt. Clint Lorance, Army Green Beret Maj. Matt Golsteyn and Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher.
Two of the service members were convicted or accused of war crimes in Afghanistan.
Lorance has served six years of a 19-year prison sentence on two counts of second-degree murder for ordering a soldier to fire on unarmed Afghan motorcyclists in 2012. Lorance had already served six years.
Golsteyn was awaiting courtmartial for the murder of an alleged Afghan bomb-maker in 2010.
“Thanks to President Trump, we now have a chance to rebuild our family and lives,” Golsteyn said in a statement, according to the Washington Post.
“With time, I hope to regain my immense pride in having served in our military. In the meantime, we are so thankful for the support of family members, friends and supporters from around the nation, and our legal team.”
Gallagher was sentenced to four months in prison and a reduction in rank for posing with a corpse during a 2017 deployment to Iraq. Trump associate and disgraced exNew York police commissioner Bernard Kerik was a member of Gallagher’s legal team.
Besides pardoning Gallagher, Trump restored his rank to chief petty officer. Gallagher was acquitted earlier this year of killing the soldier whose corpse he posed with.