Navy says review board will not look at case of SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who will retire

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: I am backing ‘war fighters’ in SEAL case A day after the Navy Secretary was removed over the firing of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, President Donald Trump insists he's protecting "war fighters," explaining his actions in the case of a Navy SEAL accused of war crimes in Iraq. (Nov. 25)

Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, whose demotion for posing for a photo with a combatant's corpse was reversed by President Donald Trump, will retire and a planned review of his status has been canceled, the Navy announced late Monday.

"He will retire from active duty," Navy Cdr. Clay Doss said in a statement. "We will not provide additional details dueto privacy concerns."

The announcement marked the formal end of the review, which could have led to Gallagher's expulsion from the elite special operations SEAL group, after Trump issued an order to Defense Secretary Mark Esper that Gallagher be allowed to keep his Trident pin symbolizing his SEAL membership.

"The case of Eddie Gallagher has dragged on for months, and it's distracting too many. It must end," Esper told reporters at the Pentagon on Monday. "Eddie Gallagher will retain his Trident as the commander in chief directed, and will retire at the end of this month."

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Gallagher's case and the planned review were at the center of the firing of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer on Sunday.