“Final” word in Gallagher case stinks

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In October we reported that Navy SEAL Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher’s lawyer had filed a clemency request to get criminal charges against Gallagher dropped for posing with the body of a dead ISIS fighter.

The goal was to reinstate Gallagher’s rank of Chief Petty Officer, and preserve approximately $200,000 in future retirement benefits he would otherwise lose because he was demoted.

This week, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday ruled on the request. He said NO.

Gallagher’s conviction will remain. For the same thing at least 10 other warriors in his platoon, including a commissioned officer, were pictured doing as well. For the same “crime” exactly no one has been charged with, in 20 years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But it could have been worse.

Based on Gallagher’s conviction for the photo, he faced automatic demotion to E-1 status (the most junior enlisted sailor) which would have further reduced his pension.

Cmdr. Nate Christensen, spokesman for Adm. Gilday said, “After careful consideration as the convening authority, Adm. Gilday decided to uphold the sentence as adjudged by a jury of Gallagher’s peers, but disapproved the automatic reduction in rate to E-1.”

In an interview with Task & Purpose, Gallagher’s attorney, Tim Parlatore hinted that there still might be one option left, albeit an outside chance.

Parlatore said “Absent any intervention from the White House, he’s gonna retire as an E6.”

“Obviously we’re disappointed that Eddie Gallagher will not be able to retire as a Chief Petty Officer,” Parlatore added. “It is unfortunate that he has to lose a significant portion of his pension for an offense that is ordinarily handled with a verbal counseling.

“In a case which has been so corrupted by illegal conduct on the part of the investigators, prosecutors, and the command, it seems Eddie Gallagher is the only one that’s going to be held accountable for it.”

As we wrote here, The term “miscarriage of justice” doesn’t do justice to the outrageousness of this whole mess. Gallagher is a 20-year veteran. He was in line for a promotion to senior chief, and nominated for a Silver Star for battlefield valor. He lost all of that, plus his position as an instructor at Special Operations Urban Combat School.

Unless the White House intervenes, Gallagher will remain demoted, losing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his lifetime pension, and will forever branded a “felon” for the general court-martial conviction — an act other platoon members did right next to him, at the same time.

It’s fashionable these days to talk about “fairness,” that the playing field must be leveled for less fortunate members of society, so everyone gets a fair shot and those with more pay their fair share.

The only one paying for anything in this case is Gallagher. It’s not only not fair. It’s bullsh*t.

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