A large dossier of investigative and legal files provided to Navy Times revealed Friday that several SEALs have sought both testimonial and transactional immunity from future prosecution in exchange for their testimony against a chief petty officer.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher will be arraigned Friday at Naval Base San Diego on a long list of criminal charges, including the premeditated murder of a wounded Islamic State prisoner of war.
The military has reportedly punished six troops for their roles in the October 2017 Niger ambush that resulted in the deaths of four Americans and four Nigerien soldiers.
Although he wasn’t present during the alleged homicide near the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2017, Lt. Jacob “Jake” Portier faces an upcoming Article 32 hearing for supposedly covering up evidence that Special Operations Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher committed a string of war crimes there.
The Pentagon released an extended video Thursday of its re-creation of the Niger attack last October that took the lives of four US service members, revealing new details about the soldiers’ final minutes.