This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
On November 24, 2019, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper fired Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, citing his handling of the case of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was convicted of battlefield misconduct in Iraq.
Esper's decision came after Spencer suggested a possible split with President Donald Trump over the handling of Gallagher's case. In a letter published in media reports, Spencer defended the need to preserve 'good order and discipline throughout the ranks,' which he believed the peer review board would help ensure.
However, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman offered a different version of events leading up to Spencer's dismissal, saying Spencer had privately proposed to the White House to restore Gallagher's rank and allow him to retire with his Trident pin, contrary to his public position.
Esper decided to ask for Spencer's resignation after 'losing trust and confidence in him regarding his lack of candor over conversations with the White House,' Hoffman said.
Trump, who publicly opposed taking away Gallagher's Trident pin and had intervened in the case to restore his rank, cheered the moves. 'Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin,' Trump said on Twitter.
Trump said he would nominate the U.S. envoy to Norway, Ken Braithwaite, to replace Spencer as Navy Secretary.
