He's been following the story for KPBS Public Media in San Diego, and he was there for the verdict and sentencing today. Our Iraqi interpreters told us horrific stories of the acts that ISIS committed. After two weeks of testimony, Chief Edward Gallagher was found not guilty of murdering a suspected ISIS prisoner in Iraq. There is a digital trove of evidence a mile long where Eddie violated dozens of articles of the UCMJ. SEALs. Well, they addressed it in the sense of, they said that this was dark humor. Theres the fog of war, of course, but several statements display fundamental disagreements about what occurred on the battlefield and was rehashed during meetings with each other and their superiors back in California. The fact is that we reported these crimes to Portier, who said he would handle it. Instead, most only heard about Gallagher committing the same kinds of horrific acts as the people we were sent to fight. Barstool Sportsbook has arrived in PA, MI, IL, IN, CO, VA, NJ, TN, AZ, IA, WV, LA, KS, MD, OH, MA. He was the first non-Marine to graduate from the United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper School that he attended. So he served none of this four-month sentence, so he was able to drive off right after the right after his case was over today. Gallagher's accusers painted him as a bloodthirsty warrior who was out of control in Iraq in 2017. [41][42], After the closure of the case, Gallagher and his initial lawyer entered a dispute in August 2019. This offer contradicted Spencer's public position and was kept secret from Esper. I mean, that's got to do something to your case, if your key witness sort of says, actually, the guy you think killed it didn't do it, I did it. On May 28, Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward Eddie Gallagher will be guided into a courtroom inside Naval Base San Diego, where he will face a panel of his peers sifting evidence in a war crimes case. Eddie Gallagher [15] As a result of the spying controversy, the judge ordered Gallagher freed from prison while awaiting trial as a remedy to interference from the prosecution. [2], On July 2, 2019, Gallagher was convicted of posing for a photograph with the corpse of an ISIS fighter, but was acquitted of all other charges after Special Operator Corey Scott, a member of Gallaghers team granted immunity as a witness against Gallagher, testified that he had killed the prisoner. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. The accusations came from SEALs in Gallagher's own platoon, who said he was also known for taking shots at civilians from his sniper's nest, killing at least two. To Gallaghers attorney Parlatore, the SO1s interview is the classic example of a witness whos trying to connect dots for investigators by grasping on to events and conversations that likely arent related but end up unfairly portraying the platoon chief as someone hes not. Eddie Gallagher A member of the Iraqi federal police awaits his next movement on the streets of the recently secured airport during the offensive to liberate West Mosul, Iraq, March 2, 2017. [50] Also on November 25, Trump told reporters that Gallagher "was one of the ultimate fighters". Thats something the other medically-trained SO1 also told investigators; He returned to the area and was surprised to find the prisoner dead. Due to the charged nature of the case, this request went high up the chain of command. In a statement to the paper, Naval Special Warfare Command spokeswoman Capt. Eddie Gallagher and the changing story Thats because Gallagher who disliked using a spotter tried to keep away from Portier while they were in the sniper positions because (Gallagher) complained that Portier was too controlling and talked too much, according to the report. Lastly, we know that Gallagher's convicted of this one charge of posing with the photograph. And I wanted to read what these texts say. He told NCIS it had a blade a few inches long, although photographs of the weapon make it look stubbier. Please check your inbox to confirm. [3], Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on May 29, 1979, Gallagher graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School. But at the beginning of the probe, two interviews with SEALs still on active duty today seemed to propel the larger NCIS investigation. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. (third from right) speaks at a rally on Capitol Hill supporting Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward Gallagher, facing war crimes charges for actions in Afghanistan. We arent lawyers. Gallagher and his wife are authors of the book, The Man in the Arena: From Fighting Isis to Fighting for My Freedom published by Ballast Books (2021) .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN9781733428002. [19] The president's move also favored several other military members accused of misconduct: in addition to Gallagher, Lieutenant Clint Lorance was ordered freed; and the prosecution of Matthew Golsteyn was ended. As usual, Fox News figures prominently. Real brothers dont needlessly put their men at risk. And a fellow sniper intends to tell the panel that Gallagher claimed, he averaged three kills a day over 80 days, according to legal filings obtained by Navy Times. The LPO told the investigator that there were other war crimes fellow SEALs witnessed, but he didnt see them. One dude I was good friends with was so paranoid that he hadn't taken a single picture with his son. The accusations against Eddie were numerous, with the most prominent being the alleged murder of an Iraqi prisoner of war. 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We had been through a lot, and seven of the 22 members of Alpha Platoon decided that it was more important to be able to look our kids in the eye and teach them between right and wrong than to be popular in misguided social circles. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-navy-seal-eddie-gallagher-was-found-not-guilty-of-murdering-iraqi-captive, Navy SEAL acquitted of killing says he made tactical, ethical, moral mistakes, Navy SEAL Gallagher cleared of most charges, Medic in Navy SEAL case takes blame for killing Islamic State fighter, Trial of Navy SEAL charged with war crimes set to begin, Lawyers for freed Navy SEAL want war crime case dismissed. Rob Breisch, while we were still in Iraq. [17] For the most serious charge of murder of a prisoner, according to the defense, Gallagher stabbed a corpse and embellished a story out of misplaced bravado; the prisoner had already died of his wounds. Three months ago, prosecutors argued that Gallagher spread numerous rumors about his teammates to members of the SEAL community, describing them as cowards who were afraid to go out on missions during deployment and went so far as to tell the new chain of command for teammates who had transferred, according to a filing provided to Navy Times. They said that he went up in the sniper tower and shot at civilians. He turned to the jury of all members of the military, Marines and a couple and one SEAL, as a matter of fact, and said, who among us had not had their commander threatened to kill them at one point or another? The SO1 found it strange that (Gallagher) was present because (Gallagher) should have been closer to the fighting outside the compound with the forward element, NCIS wrote. The showdown inside Naval Base Coronado with Gallagher didnt appear to mollify his critics within the platoon and he still held his billet teaching tactics. Eddie Gallagher My brothers are barrel-chested freedom fighters that go to the ends of the earth to carry out our nations foreign policy, fighting our nations enemies and liberating populations of people along the way. Eddie Gallagher WebAnswer (1 of 13): I will admit out right that I havnt liked Eddie since he was my buddy Daves LPO. You have been following this trial all along. What is next for Chief Gallagher? Many have asked, How could you turn in a brother? Let me clarify something: Gallagher was our Chief. Recon. They wanted him fired from a schoolhouse billet that taught junior SEALs battlefield operations. The accusations came from SEALs in Gallagher's own platoon, who said he was also known for taking shots at civilians from his sniper's nest, killing at least two. My character and honor are steadfast. Click here. Gallagher's accusers painted him as a bloodthirsty warrior who was out of control in Iraq in 2017. He recalled no injuries to his neck and that the prisoner was unarmed, conscious and not combative.". All appear on camera. The LPO told the agent that an SO1 who remained to assist Gallagher with the medical care was freaking out a little bit over what Eddie just did but there was nothing anyone could do because the subject was dead.. Jason Hull). One of the members of Gallaghers unit Alpha Platoon, SEAL Team 7 is expected to testify that Gallagher confessed that he killed four women, according to Naval Criminal Investigative Service files and legal records provided to Navy Times. Around noon, the SO1 said he panned north along the banks of the Tigris River, watching a path used by refugee families to escape Islamic State-controlled Mosul. [47][48] Esper immediately fired Spencer for going outside the chain of command. After repeatedly changing his story and denying that he killed the teenage prisoner at all, he finally conceded a half-truth on Apple TVs The Line documentary: He admitted to killing the prisoner, just not in the manner that my teammates saw, or in the way that he told me and other SEALs. But Gallagher faces a long line of SEALs prepared to provide damning testimony under oath against him. We dont identify them by name, or by any other manner, due to the nature of their work, for the protection of their teammates and their families, and to protect on-going and future missions, Lawrence told the newspaper. Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward Eddie Gallagher in Iraq in 2017. The accusations came from SEALs in Gallagher's own platoon, who said he was also known for taking shots at civilians from his sniper's nest, killing at least two. The San Diego Times-Union has written about it. [31] Scott called it a "mercy killing" and argued that the victim would have been tortured by Iraqi personnel due to his connection to the Islamic State. Platoon members said they saw Chief Gallagher shoot civilians and fatally stab a wounded captive with a hunting knife. On the stand, his attorney said called them entitled young SEALs. Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward Eddie Gallagher in Iraq in 2017. Another sniper who also has indicated he might not testify later told prosecutors that he saw an old man go down, but he didnt see Gallagher shoot him, according to emails to prosecutors provided to Navy Times. So we probably won't see the final outcome for a while. All right, Steve Walsh of KPBS in San Diego, thank you very much. One of those incidents allegedly occurred on the day after he left. Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward Eddie Gallagher in Iraq in 2017. I doubt Eddie Gallagher is thumbing away on his computer and coming up with these graphics and effects himself. He insisted they all made the story up because THEY were afraid of Portier, he said, gathered all of the team members together and took a photograph of the team.". After watching the mini-series The Line, do you believe And then, all of a sudden, they hit a nerve, said Timothy Parlatore, Gallaghers lead civilian counsel. Well, the way it works in military court, this will go to the convening authority for final approval of this sentence. Whats unusual about the interview is that it appears at times almost as if the LPO believes hes attending an intelligence debriefing, not necessarily the sort of interrogation conducted by federal detectives building a criminal case against his former platoon chief. We raise each other up and create a culture of constant improvement and accountability. Clip from Apple TVs documentary The Line featuring Eddie Gallagher, former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, and Navy SEAL Dylan Dille. He remembered attending Bible study at the home of the chief and his wife, Andrea, who led the class. Thank you. (AP Photo, File). Sometimes Lt. Portier would make excuses for Gallagher, and sometimes he assured us that he had taken action against him. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. I just want to make clear that this small group of SEALs that decided to concoct this story in no way, shape or form represent the community that I have, you know, loved and gave my soul to. Others were concerned that he was tactically incompetent and temperamentally unfit to lead special operators. Throughout the trial, Gallagher acted as though it was not he who had been accused of wrongdoing but the investigators, prosecutors and witnesses. That is best sailor, in all 6 teams on the West Coast: NSWU-1, NSWU-3, SDVT-1. He insisted that he then saw the chief stab the ISIS fighter multiple times in the right side of the neck in a manner that was in no way a medical procedure, according to an NCIS report.