House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) expressed support for President Donald Trump’s decision to grant pardons to two U.S. servicemen accused of war crimes, saying that it could improve troop morale.
Trump granted clemency to Army First Lieutenant Clint Lorance and Army Major Mathew Golsteyn last Friday despite concerns that it could undermine the military justice system. He also signed an order restoring the rank of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher.
“I think ... morale is much higher amongst troops I’ve heard from because this has been a concern,“ Scalise said. ”I’ve heard from our men and women in uniform for years that they felt that they were sidelined because they needed a team of attorneys before they could return fire in the battlefield.”
He said some of the people who were killed in these incidents were “terrorists, bomb-making terrorists.” Yet, the military members come back and face harsh punishment “for killing a terrorist in the battlefield.”
“I think there have been a lot of concerns expressed over the years that many of our men and women in uniform that were out battling terrorists in the battlefield were being put in a position where they had to think about whether or not if they returned fire if they defended themselves,” he added.
Trump received mixed reactions for his decision to pardon the men, with critics saying that the decision sends a message of disrespect for the law and military justice system.
But in the White House statement on Friday, press secretary Stephanie Grisham said: “presidents have used their authority to offer second chances to deserving individuals, including those in uniform who have served our country” for more than 200 years.
“These actions are in keeping with this long history. As the president has stated, ‘When our soldiers have to fight for our country, I want to give them the confidence to fight,'” she said.
“The President is part of the military justice system as the Commander-in-Chief and has the authority to weigh in on matters of this nature,” the spokesperson said in the statement.