President Donald Trump has said that a Navy SEAL who is accused of war crimes will be moved to better jail conditions while he awaits trial.
Edward ‘Eddie’ Gallagher, 39, is currently jailed in military prison Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar in California on charges of premeditated murder and aggravated assault.
‘In honor of his past service to our Country, Navy Seal #EddieGallagher will soon be moved to less restrictive confinement while he awaits his day in court. Process should move quickly!’ Trump wrote in a tweet on Saturday.
The 14-year Navy SEAL veteran is accused of murdering a 15-year-old Afghan ISIS prisoner in 2017, performing a reenlistment ceremony with the militant’s corpse, and firing sniper rounds at civilians during his deployment in Iraq.
The 39-year-old has been jailed at military prison Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar in California on charges of premeditated murder and aggravated assault for killings he allegedly committed during his deployment
Trump (seen last month) said on Saturday that Gallagher will be moved to better conditions as he awaits trial, after House Republicans said his jail conditions were ‘abhorrent’
Last week, Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw joined other House Republicans to decry the ‘abhorrent’ conditions Gallagher faces as he awaits trial.
Gallagher’s prison conditions are reportedly so dire he’s allegedly given limited access to food, medical care and access to his legal team, and is jailed alongside convicted criminals, politicians say.
Crenshaw, who lost sight in his right eye after he was injured in an IED explosion during his deployment in Afghanistan, and 17 other House Republicans sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer this week asking for a review of Gallagher’s pre-trial confinement.
‘Chief Gallagher is a decorated warfighter who, like all service members, is entitled to the presumption of innocence while awaiting court-martial,’ the letter said.
‘We have received reports that Chief Gallagher’s access to counsel and access to food and medical care may have been restricted.
‘Chief Gallagher and other pretrial service members are intermingled with convicts who have been tried at court-martial, found guilty and sentenced to confinement,’ the Congress members stated in their letter.
He’s accused of murdering a 15-year-old Afghan ISIS prisoner and firing sniper rounds at civilians during his deployment in the Middle East
His family and politicians say that during his over six months in jail, he’s lacked food, medical care, and access to his legal team. The letter demands that his pre-trial conditions be reconsidered and he be moved to another location
They requested that the Navy reconsider Gallagher’s jail site and move him out of Miramar, where he’s been for over six months, to ‘a more appropriate’ location for pretrial confinement.
The letter was signed by Crenshaw, Reps. Mac Thornberry of Texas, Van Taylor of Texas, Pete Olsen of Texas, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, Jim Banks of Indiana, Paul Cook of California, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Jody Hice of Georgia, French Hill of Arkansas, Brian Mast of Florida, Ralph Normal of South Carolina, Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania, Austin Scott of Georgia, and Greg Steube of Florida, and Michael Waltz of Florida.
Still, Gallagher is expected to stay at Miramar until the start of his war crimes trial on May 28.
Gallagher was a decorated soldier who served for 19 years and was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan several times. He had earned the Bronze Star with V for Valor twice as well as a Meritorious Unit commendation and a trio of Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals.
Gallagher’s brother Sean released a statement to Fox on behalf the family saying they are ‘grateful Members of Congress are calling attention to what our family has been experiencing for seven months: the abhorrent treatment of one of its most decorated warfighters.’
‘Let it sink in that it is taking Members of Congress to request that a combat veteran Navy SEAL — someone who has gone to war for us 8 times — be given the basics of medical care and legal counsel amidst absurd charges,’ he added.
‘Americans should be livid,’ he closed the statement.
Gallagher is set to face trial on May 28, and Trump says he will be moved to better conditions
The 39-year-old is jailed at the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar in California awaiting his May 28 trial for his war crimes
Though Gallagher is hailed a hero, he faces severe accusations of becoming a ‘monster’ on the front lines after years nearly two decades of service, according to prosecutors.
He’s accused of killing the 15-year-old Islamic State fighter who was in his care by repeated plunging a knife into the already wounded prisoner’s body. Then Gallagher allegedly held his reenlistment ceremony with the corpse and posed for a photo with the militant’s body.
He’s also accused of shooting two civilians in Iraq and firing into crowds.
Prosecutors said witnesses told investigators Gallagher had allegedly bragged about killing up to 200 people – ‘three a day’ during his 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq, according to the San Diego Tribune.
In February a military judge dropped two charges against the vet – charges for allegeding performing the reenlistment ceremony next to the corpose and for operating a drone over the corpse.
He still faces charges of premeditated murder for stabbing the teen and aggravated assault for firing rounds at civilians.
His trial will begin on May 28.