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What are your thoughts…Politically motivated, or not?

In November, 2019, then-President Donald Trump issued a pardon to retired Special Forces Maj. Mathew Golsteyn while he was awaiting trial.

You might recall Golsteyn was charged with premeditated murder in 2010 after he killed a suspected militant bomb-maker. (Bear in mind, killing bad guys was what he was sent to do). An initial investigation by the Army found insufficient evidence to charge him.

But the Army kept trying. They opened a second investigation in 2016 and charged him in December of 2018.

Trump had made it clear he thought the charges against Golsteyn were bogus. We’d include his tweet on the subject, except his account has been suspended.

However, here’s the text of his December 2018 tweet:

At the request of many, I will be reviewing the case of a “U.S. Military hero,” Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder. He could face the death penalty from our own government after he admitted to killing a Terrorist bomb maker while overseas. @PeteHegseth @FoxNews

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2018

At the time, the Army was mightily ticked off that Trump made any comment at all. And apparently, they’re still ticked.

Yesterday, USA Today reported the Army has rejected Golsteyn’s appeal to return his medals for valor, restore his Special Forces tab, marking his service as a member of the elite unit and remove a letter of reprimand placed in his personnel file.

Apparently this decision was reached last June, but wasn’t announced by the Army until now, two months after Trump left office.

Interesting timing.

Golsteyn issued a statement through his lawyer saying, “Clearly, we have seen military departments obey the direction of the Commander in Chief in other cases and, inexplicably, the Army defied the President,” Golsteyn said. “It shouldn’t be a surprise the findings of the Army Board were released in November 2020 and not mailed to me for 2 more months, after President Trump left office, so my case could languish in the quagmire of Presidential transition.”

Phillip Stackhouse, Golsteyn’s lawyer, said the board’s ruling was “silly” and in a statement to USA Today called on President Biden to follow through with Trump’s promise.

“It’s repugnant that that Army continues to denigrate Matt’s heroism on the battlefield,” Stackhouse said in a statement. “The false allegations are alleged to have happened well after the Valorous actions on the battle field and the Army should be ashamed to keep the false narrative alive at this point. It’s an embarrassment and disloyal.”

Stackhouse also indicated Golsteyn was mulling the possibility of taking his case to federal court.

Good luck with that.