Timeline: How Trump intervened in the Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher's war crimes case

Corrections and clarifications: Marc Mukasey is a lawyer in private practice and was co-lead trial attorney for the Gallagher defense team. A previous version misstated his position.

A highly decorated but controversial Navy SEAL retires with his Trident pin as the Secretary of the Navy is forced to resign while navigating a course between presidential intervention and military justice.

President Trump's recent intercessions in the military legal system – pardoning two Army officers and openly supporting a Navy SEAL before trial – have angered Pentagon officials, rallied conservative supporters and caused confusion on troop conduct in the field.

The SEAL, Edward Gallagher, is a chief petty officer and decorated veteran who was acquitted of multiple charges of murder. He was found guilty of violating military law by posing for photos with the body of an ISIS fighter.

Trump reversed the military court decision and ordered Gallagher's rank and pay reinstated. After disagreeing with the administration, Richard Spencer, the secretary of the Navy, was ousted.

Trump says he is protecting soldiers from unfair punishment. Some military leaders, including Spencer, say Trump's actions send wrong message of "you can get away with it" to the troops.

How Trump became involved in the Gallagher case:

Background

Gallagher enlisted in the Navy in 1999. He served as medic and completed SEAL training in 2005. He served eight tours of duty and is the recipient of two Bronze Stars with valor and other awards.

May 3, 2017

On this day, military prosecutors say, Gallagher killed a captive teen-aged Islamic State combatant by stabbing him in the neck and chest in a Navy SEAL post near Mosul, Iraq.

Gallagher and other members of his platoon posed with the prisoner's body. Prosecutors say he used it as a prop in a re-enlistment ceremony. Later, Gallagher allegedly texts, "I got this one with my knife."

Sept. 11, 2018

Gallagher pleads not guilty to multiple charges, including killing the Islamic State captive and unarmed Iraqi civilians in June and July 2017. He's held at San Diego’s Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar.

Jan. 4, 2019

Gallagher is formally arraigned in San Diego.

March 27

The Navy Times reports NCIS has seized "cell phones and electronic communications" since February in a search for evidence that Gallagher asked other SEALs to "obstruct justice or retaliate against junior sailors who ratted him out for war crimes."

March 30

Trump tweets that Gallagher will be moved to "less restrictive confinement." He's later confined to base at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

May 20

Citing confidential sources, news organizations report Trump is considering a pardon for Gallagher.

More: Trump may pardon troops in war crime cases reports say

May 30

A military judge releases Gallagher after allegations that the prosecution interfered with defense efforts.

June 4

The lead prosecutor in Gallagher's case is removed. Prosecutors are accused of spying on the defense and a Navy Times journalist with digital tracking devices hidden in email.

Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher walks into military court in San Diego./AP

June 18

Gallagher’s trial begins in San Diego.

More: Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher's war crimes trial begins

June 20

In a surprise move, Corey Scott, a SEAL medic, confesses during testimony that he killed the POW by plugging his breathing tube. Scott, who had been granted immunity for his testimony, says he did it so the POW would not be tortured to death by Iraqi interrogators.

Gallagher leaves court on July 2./Getty

July 1

Closing arguments for the defense are delivered by Tim Parlatore and Marc Mukasey, a former law partner of Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Earlier this year, Mukasey worked to block release of Trump's tax returns to a House committee.

July 2

A panel of five Marines and two sailors finds Gallagher not guilty of premeditated murder, willfully discharging a firearm to endanger human life, retaliation against members of his platoon for reporting his alleged actions, obstruction of justice, and the killing of two Iraqi civilians.

Gallagher is found guilty of posing for a photo with a human casualty, the Islamic State combatant. Pentagon rules say enemy dead must be treated with “the same respect as would be afforded to, or expected for, friendly military dead.”

More: Navy SEAL found not guilty of nearly all charges in war crimes trial

July 3

Gallagher is sentenced to reduction in rank to petty officer 1st class and four months’ confinement. He is given credit for time served.

Oct. 1

Gallagher's attorneys file a clemency appeal with Admiral Michael Gilday, U.S. chief of naval operations. They ask for the conviction to be vacated.

Oct. 29

Gilday upholds the jury's recommended sentence.

Nov. 1

Stars and Stripes reports Gallagher’s family has made a social media appeal to Trump for a pardon.

Nov. 15

Trump reverses Gallagher's demotion, restores his rank and pay to chief petty officer.

More: Donald Trump says he will block military from removing Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher

Nov. 20

The Navy says it will review Gallagher's status, a likely precursor to Gallagher being ousted from the SEALs and losing the coveted SEAL Trident pin.

More: Navy plans to strip SEAL's Trident, banish him from elite commando community

Nov. 24

Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer is forced to resign after privately seeking an agreement with the White House that would let Gallagher retain his rank and SEAL status.

Spencer submits a letter that says "I hereby acknowledge my termination," and rebukes Trump by saying he had been given an order he could not in "good conscience obey."

More: Richard Spencer's scathing final letter as Navy secretary

Nov. 25

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

More: Trump defends decision to order Navy SEAL to keep Trident pin

U.S. Navy Trident pin/Getty

Nov. 26

The Navy announces Gallagher will retire from active duty, keeping his SEAL status and Trident pin. The status review will not be conducted.

More: Navy says review board will not look at case of SEAL Eddie Gallagher

Nov. 27

Spencer, in an opinion piece for the Washington Post, writes that Trump's intervention was "shocking and unprecedented" for a low-level review.

More: Former Navy Secretary Spencer speaks out about firing

SOURCES: USA TODAY reporting; Associated Press; Navy Times; USA TODAY research

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eddie Gallagher: Timeline of Trump and Navy SEAL's war crimes