This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
Published on November 23, 2019, the US Navy's move to strip Chief Edward Gallagher of his Trident pin has sparked controversy.
Chief Gallagher's lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, argued that the Navy's decision was a direct rebuke to President Trump, who had restored his rank just days earlier.
“With the timing, it’s difficult to see how this was anything but a direct, public rebuke to the president,” Mr. Parlatore said.
On Friday, Secretary of the Navy, Kenneth Braithwaite, stated that he wanted to move forward with the disciplinary process, citing the need for good order and discipline.
The gold insignia Trident pin is one of the most revered in the military, representing the grit and sacrifice of sailors who undergo rigorous training and are given high-risk missions.
The Pentagon had already been fuming after President Trump cleared three members of the armed services, including Chief Gallagher, who were accused or had been convicted of war crimes.
