President Donald Trump announced on Nov. 24 that he intends to nominate Kenneth Braithwaite, the ambassador to Norway, to replace Navy Secretary Richard Spencer after Spencer was asked earlier in the day to resign over his handling of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallaghers case.
Trump made the announcement on Twitter on the evening of Nov. 24, just hours after Spencer was asked to resign by Defense Secretary Mark Esper. A Pentagon spokesperson said Esper had asked for Spencers resignation after “losing trust and confidence” in him due to “his lack of candor over conversations with the White House involving the handling of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher.”
Esper said he lost confidence in Spencer after the Navy secretary tried to make a private deal with White House officials without telling him, the spokesperson said. The deal would allow the Navy to conduct an internal review of Gallagher but with no changes to the SEALs rank and his Trident pin.
“I am deeply troubled by this conduct shown by a senior DOD official,” Esper said in a statement. “Unfortunately, as a result, I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position.”
Later in the day, Trump said he wasnt pleased with the way the Navy was pursuing Gallaghers case, saying that Gallagher “was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddies rank,” referring to his recent order to restore Gallaghers rank after a trial in which he was found not guilty of killing a wounded ISIS terrorist.
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The Navy appeared to be taking steps to remove Gallagher from the SEAL designation after Trump restored his rank. Gallaghers lawyers accused the Navy of acting in retaliation to Trumps actions and of defying the presidents actions.
Trump also cited Spencers management of the Navy for his removal, saying that he wasnt happy that the “large cost overruns from past administrations contracting procedures were not addressed to my satisfaction.”
Trump then wrote that Braithwaite, who is also a retired Navy rear admiral, will be nominated as the next Navy secretary.
“Admiral and now Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite will be nominated by me to be the new Secretary of the Navy. A man of great achievement and success, I know Ken will do an outstanding job!” he said.
I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallaghers trial was handled by the Navy. He was treated very badly but, despite this, was completely exonerated on all major charges. I then restored Eddies rank. Likewise, large cost overruns from past administrations…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2019
….honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin. Admiral and now Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite will be noRead More – Source
