White House gives Navy go-ahead on legal review of Trump-backed SEAL, official says
U.S. Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer said, “I did not threaten to resign” after President Trump objected to a review of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher’s rank.
“I cannot in good conscience obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took in the presence of my family, my flag and my faith to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” he wrote. He did not cite a specific order. In the written statement, Esper said of Spencer: “I am deeply troubled by this conduct shown by a senior DOD official. Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position. I wish Richard well.”“They could have taken my Trident at any time they wanted,” he said. “Now they’re trying to take it after the president restored my rank.
Spencer, 65, had served as Navy secretary since August 2017. He was a Wall Street investment banker and is a veteran of the Marine Corps. He and Esper were Pentagon peers during the period that Esper served as Army secretary, before being sworn in as defense secretary last July.
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