Dismissed Navy Secretary Richard Spencer warned last week that he would likely resign if ordered to allow Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher to retire with his Trident intact, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said.
Esper made his comments during an impromptu meeting with reporters Monday at the Pentagon. Esper revealed during the meeting that when he requested Spencer’s resignation, the Navy secretary submitted his letter within 30 minutes, suggesting a draft already had been written.
Esper said his decision to fire Spencer was based on the fact he broke the rules and undermined Esper’s position, and said that he implemented the president’s verbal order to bring the matter to a close.
“The case of Eddie Gallagher has dragged on for months, and it’s distracting too many. It must end,” Esper said.
President Trump gave the defense secretary a direct order to allow Gallagher to retire with his Trident pin, Esper said.
“I spoke with the president on Sunday. He gave me an order that Eddie Gallagher will retain his Trident,” Esper said. Because of that, Esper ended the Navy’s review even though he had previously said he wanted the normal process to play itself out.
“We also recognize that the commander in chief has certain constitutional rights and powers, which he is free to exercise as many presidents have done in the past,” Esper said. “Eddie Gallagher will retain his Trident as the commander in chief directed and will retire at the end of this month.”
“It is also my view that, while I believe strongly in process, the issue should not now be thrown into the laps of a board of senior NCOs to sort out,” Esper said. “As professional as they are, no matter what they would decide, they would be criticized from many sides which would further drag this issue on dividing the institution.”
