President Trump on Saturday said Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who has been charged with multiple war crimes, will soon be moved to “less restrictive confinement.”
“In honor of his past service to our Country, Navy Seal #EddieGallagher will soon be moved to less restrictive confinement while he awaits his day in court,” Trump tweeted. “Process should move quickly!”
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who has advocated for Gallagher’s release from pretrial confinement, tweeted Friday that he had spoken with Trump on the phone, thanking Trump for his decision to move Gallagher.
“This morning, I spoke with President @realDonaldTrump by phone about Navy SEAL #EddieGallagher,” he wrote. “I want to thank the President for deciding to move Chief Ghallager to less restrictive confinement while he awaits his day in court.”
Norman added in another tweet that Gallagher should be treated as a “decorated soldier who still has the presumption of innocence” until his trial.
Norman tweeted a day before that a group of 40 lawmakers had signed a letter to Rear Adm. Yancy B. Lindsey urging him to re-evaluate Gallagher’s confinement.{mosads}
“We ask that you weigh this decision given the terrible message Chief Gallagher’s confinement sends to our warfighters that they can be confined behind bars away from their family, legal defense and community for nine months before their day in court,” the letter said.
“To confine any service member for that duration of time, regardless of authority to do so, sends a chilling message to those who fight for our freedoms,” it continued.
Gallagher, a decorated 19-year Navy veteran, is facing multiple charges of war crimes. He is accused of committing premeditated murder and shooting at unarmed Iraqi civilians, according to a charge sheet obtained by CNN.
He is also charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly attempting to “discourage members of his platoon from reporting his actions while in Iraq,” CNN reported in November.
A Navy official last month told Task & Purpose, a website focused on military and veterans affairs, that the judge in Gallagher’s trial had delayed his court-martial for three months at his attorneys’ request.
Updated 9:36 a.m.