**UPDATE** Nov. 25: Richard Spencer was fired by Defense Secretary Mark Esper for insubordination.
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Navy Secretary Richard Spencer rubbished a New York Times blog post claiming he had threatened to resign because President Trump reversed the demotion of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was prosecuted because he killed an ISIS terrorist.
Spencer told multiple press outlets that “I did not threaten to resign … I work at the pleasure of the president.”
Spencer conceded that as president, Donald Trump is the undisputed commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. It was that way under Barack Obama, and it’s the same under President Trump.
Spencer remarked: “The president of the United States is the commander-in-chief, and he’s involved in every aspect of the government. And he can make decisions and give orders as he deems appropriate.”
(Source: Global News)
As BizPac Review reported, Eddie Gallagher was acquitted at trial for allegedly murdering an ISIS terrorist. However, he was demoted and his pay was docked because he posed for a photo with the dead terrorist’s corpse, in violation of military protocol.
Two weeks ago, President Trump reversed Gallagher’s demotion and pay cut. In a Nov. 15 statement, the White House explained:
“The President, as Commander-in-Chief, is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the law is enforced and when appropriate, that mercy is granted.
For more than two hundred years, presidents have used their authority to offer second chances to deserving individuals, including those in uniform who have served our country. These actions are in keeping with this long history.
As the President has stated, “when our soldiers have to fight for our country, I want to give them the confidence to fight.”
Home for Thanksgiving: Trump pardons two Army vets, restores rank of Navy SEAL prosecuted for 'war crimes' https://t.co/zExBOcbzgc via @BIZPACReview
— Biden is not my president (@monitteh) November 16, 2019
Meanwhile, the left-wing New York Times claimed that Navy Secretary Richard Spencer had threatened to resign because Trump reversed Gallagher’s demotion.
The New York Times also claimed that Spencer still plans to discipline Gallagher — in contravention of President Trump’s actions.
“The Navy is proceeding with the disciplinary plans against the commando, Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher … The threats by the Navy secretary, Richard V. Spencer, and Rear Adm. Collin Green are a rare instance of pushback against Mr. Trump from members of the Defense Department.”
Mr. Trump reversed that demotion, angering Navy officials, who had little choice but to accept the reversal. Nonetheless, they continued with their plans to expel Chief Gallagher from the unit.”
Secretary Spencer doubled-down on his denial that he had threatened to resign, or that he questioned President Trump’s authority as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.
Spencer tweeted: “Contrary to popular belief, I am still here. I did not threaten to resign. We are here to talk about external threats and Eddie Gallagher is not one of them.”
"Contrary to popular belief, I am still here. I did not threaten to resign. We are here to talk about external threats and Eddie Gallagher is not one of them." pic.twitter.com/ysa5A6pYkd
— SECNAV76 (@secnav76) November 23, 2019
The Navy Secretary tweeted: “I would like to further state that in no way, shape, or form did I ever threaten to resign. That has been incorrectly reported in the press. I serve at the pleasure of the President.”
I would like to further state that in no way, shape, or form did I ever threaten to resign. That has been incorrectly reported in the press. I serve at the pleasure of the President.
— SECNAV76 (@secnav76) November 23, 2019
Shortly after President Trump reversed Eddie Gallagher’s demotion, the left-wing Washington Post, New York Times, and other outlets slammed him, claiming he “meddled” in this case against the wishes of some Pentagon officials.
Reminder: Trump is the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. Americans did not elect Pentagon officials, so their alleged disapproval of Trump’s pardons is irrelevant.
Socialist millionaire Bernie Sanders, owner of 3 homes, rips billionaire Mike Bloomberg
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Samantha Chang is a senior staff writer for BizPac Review. She is a financial editor and lawyer based in New York City.
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