Trump congratulates Navy SEAL found not guilty of war crimes: ‘Glad I could help!’

President Trump on Wednesday congratulated Edward Gallagher after the Navy SEAL was found not guilty of the murder of an ISIS captive and of attempted murder of Iraqi civilians in a closely watched war-crimes trial.

“Congratulations to Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, his wonderful wife Andrea, and his entire family. You have been through much together. Glad I could help!” Trump tweeted. 

Congratulations to Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, his wonderful wife Andrea, and his entire family. You have been through much together. Glad I could help!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019

Gallagher’s case rallied conservatives who argued he was being unfairly prosecuted for his actions in Iraq. Trump intervened in the case in March, ordering that he be freed from pretrial confinement. Gallagher was reportedly among several war-crime cases Trump for which was considering a pardon.

The Navy SEAL special operations chief was convicted of one charge of posing with the ISIS captive’s body, but was released from custody on time already served.

Gallagher was turned in to authorities last year by members of his own platoon, who said that he shot at several civilians during a 2017 deployment and killed the ISIS captive, who was already injured, with a hunting knife.

The trial was explosive, with one witness testifying that he was the one who killed the teenage militant fighter.