Speier to call on IG investigation into Navy chief’s firing

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) is calling for the Defense Department’s inspector general to investigate the termination of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, following the top Navy official’s recent ouster. 

{mosads}“We’ve had our disagreements, but I am still distressed to see  Sec. Spencer dismissed in the wake of @POTUS‘s efforts to subvert the military justice system. I will be calling on the DOD Inspector General to investigate and determine the circumstances of his termination,” Speier tweeted Tuesday. 

“The next NavSec and Sec. Esper should show courage like Adm. Green and fight for a culture of accountability and rule of law among SEALs, despite tremendous pressure. I applaud uniformed leaders’ efforts to dissuade @POTUS from subverting mil justice for his personal politics,” she added.

The next NavSec and Sec. Esper should show courage like Adm. Green and fight for a culture of accountability and rule of law among SEALs, despite tremendous pressure. I applaud uniformed leaders’ efforts to dissuade @POTUS from subverting mil justice for his personal politics.

— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) November 26, 2019

Defense Secretary Mark Esper asked for Spencer’s resignation over the weekend over how he handled a war crimes case involving Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher. The Pentagon said Sunday that Spencer’s ouster was officially for circumventing normal channels and making a request of the White House with regard to the case. 

But Spencer appeared to contradict the reasoning in a letter announcing his exit, saying he “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.”

His resignation came after President Trump tweeted that the case was handled “very badly” and said the Navy would not be taking away Gallagher’s Trident pin. Spencer had said the review would not stop and he didn’t consider a tweet a formal order.

Gallagher was convicted by a military jury in July of posing with a corpse in Iraq during a 2017 deployment. He was acquitted of several other charges, including murder. 

Spencer told CBS in an interview Monday that Trump’s move to block a review of Gallagher sends a message that service members “can get away with things.”