Crenshaw, Delegation of 17 Seek Answers for Chief Petty Officer Edward “Eddie” Gallagher
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) was joined by a delegation of 17 U.S. Representatives from across the country in writing a letter to Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer seeking review of Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer Edward “Eddie” Gallagher’s conditions of confinement. Gallagher was arrested on September 11, 2018. Since then he’s been held in pretrial confinement that limited his access to counsel, medical treatment for injuries and conditions related to service, and family visits, all rights that he has been denied despite presumption of innocence.
A Fox News article covering this effort highlighted the concerns raised in the letter and underscored the growing support for Gallagher’s case. The Gallagher family expressed their gratitude for the congressional intervention, stating:
“[The Gallagher's] are grateful Members of Congress are calling attention to what our family has been experiencing for 7 months: the abhorrent treatment of one of its most decorated warfighters. Let it sink in that it is taking Members of Congress to request that a combat veteran Navy SEAL—someone who has gone to war for us 8 times—be given the basics of medical care and legal counsel amidst absurd charges. Americans should be livid.”
Congressman Crenshaw and the other Members wrote to Secretary Spencer:
“In accordance with Rule for Court-martial 304(f), you, as Secretary of the Navy, are responsible for establishing regulations governing the facilities and treatment of service members in pretrial confinement. We therefore request that you review the underlying reasons for co-locating pretrial and post-trial confinees at Consolidated Brig Miramar and whether the current arrangement fundamentally disadvantages Chief Gallagher and other pre-trial service members. Furthermore, we request that you consider whether other locations are more appropriate for pretrial confinement.”
The following Representatives cosigned the letter: Mac Thornberry (TX-13), Jim Jordan (OH-4), Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL), Jim Banks (IN-3), Paul Cook (CA-8), Louie Gohmert (TX-1), Paul Gosar (AZ-4), Jody Hice (GA-10), French Hill (AR-2), Brian Mast (FL-18), Ralph Norman (SC-5), Pete Olson (TX-22), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Austin Scott (GA-8), Greg Steube (FL-17), Van Taylor (TX-3), and Michael Waltz (FL-6).
Read the full letter here.
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