This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
On November 25, 2019, a crisis unfolded at the Pentagon when President Trump intervened in the disciplinary process of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, blocking Navy Secretary Richard Spencer's attempt to save the SEAL from being ousted from the Navy.
According to Defense Department officials, Secretary Spencer had threatened to resign over the issue, which further infuriated top Navy and SEAL leaders. In an effort to resolve the situation, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and General Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with President Trump to ask him to allow the disciplinary process to proceed.
However, unbeknownst to Secretary Esper and General Milley, Secretary Spencer had been pursuing a side deal with the White House, where he promised to ensure Chief Gallagher would not be ousted from the Navy SEALs if President Trump allowed the disciplinary process to go forward.
After discovering Secretary Spencer's secret deal, Secretary Esper was furious and demanded his resignation, citing that he had lied to him.
Chief Gallagher's lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, described the situation as 'bananas' and stated that if Secretary Spencer had lied to Secretary Esper, he had no choice but to ask for his resignation.
A Navy Special Warfare official in San Diego confirmed that SEAL commanders were caught off guard by the announcement and were 'floored' by the news.
