Esper says Trump ordered him to allow SEAL to keep status

By ROBERT BURNS
WASHINGTON  — Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday that President Donald Trump gave him a direct order to allow a Navy SEAL accused of war crimes to retire without losing his SEAL status.
Esper told reporters at the Pentagon that Trump’s order was the reason he announced Sunday that Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher would be allowed to retire with his Trident Pin, retaining his status as a SEAL.
Last week Trump had tweeted that he wanted Gallagher to be al