SAN DIEGO _ President Donald Trump took to Twitter Wednesday to announce he has rescinded awards given to Navy prosecutors days after the court-martial of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher ended with an acquittal on most charges.
Gallagher, 40, had been charged with premeditated murder in connection with the 2017 death of a captive teenage fighter for Islamic State that he was treating for injuries. He also faced charges related to allegations he shot at civilians and tried to intimidate witnesses.
He was acquitted July 2 of all those charges but convicted of one, a charge for posing with the fighter's corpse. He was reduced a rank to E-6 but is still a chief special warfare operator.
On July 10, a week later, three prosecutors involved in the case received Navy Achievement Medals, according to the military news website Task & Purpose, which reported a Navy spokesman saying the awards were for performing "above their normal duties."
The San Diego Union-Tribune filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the award citations six days after the July 10 award ceremony, but as of Wednesday afternoon, the Navy has not provided the documents.
In a series of tweets Wednesday, Trump referenced his involvement in Gallagher's case and criticized the Navy's prosecution of him.
"The Prosecutors who lost the case against SEAL Eddie Gallagher (who I released from solitary confinement so he could fight his case properly), "were ridiculously given a Navy Achievement Medal," Trump said on Twitter. "Not only did they lose the case, they had difficulty with respect ... .to information that may have been obtained from opposing lawyers and for giving immunity in a totally incompetent fashion. I have directed the Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer & Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson to immediately withdraw and rescind the awards ... I am very happy for Eddie Gallagher and his family!"
A Navy official confirmed Wednesday that the secretary of the Navy was rescinding the awards.
The Navy Judge Advocate's spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
Trump's tweets are the latest examples of his links to Gallagher.
Shortly after the Gallagher's arrest in September, his wife, Andrea Gallagher, and brother, Sean Gallagher, began an extensive campaign on conservative news channels to ask the president to intervene. The pair appeared several times on Fox News and One America News, where Gallagher received sympathetic coverage.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., also became involved, visiting the SEAL while he was in custody and advocating for him during his own TV appearances.
Trump first tweeted about the Gallagher case March 30, when he ordered Gallagher freed from pretrial confinement.
On July 3, the day after Gallagher was acquitted of most charges against him, Trump tweeted, "Congratulations to Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, his wonderful wife Andrea, and his entire family. You have been through much together. Glad I could help!"
The tweets are not the only ties Trump has to Gallagher.
Gallagher's lead defense attorney, Timothy Parlatore, previously represented Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, who expressed support for Gallagher on Fox News and privately to the president, the Daily Beast reported.
Trump's personal attorney, Marc Mukasey, joined Gallagher's defense team in May, questioning a key witness and splitting closing arguments with Parlatore.
