Gallagher, along with other charges, was charged in 2018 with the murder of Khaled Jamal Abdullah (17 years old). After a member from his team testified that Gallagher killed the prisoner, he was later cleared. Gallagher was convicted for taking a photo with the corpse. He was then demoted to chief petty officers and petty officers first class.The case made national headlines. It also led to a shakeup in Navy leadership. After President Donald Trump intervened, Gallagher was reinstated and the Navy ordered not to remove his SEAL Trident insignia. For his handling of this case, then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper fired Richard Spencer, the former Navy Secretary.Hillson clarified after this article was published that Gallagher's evidence regarding medical treatment and death "was already investigated,/or adjudicated by Gallagher’s court-martial." She stated that Gallagher cannot be prosecuted for the same offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or the Constitution.Gallagher stated that the group's intention was to kill an ISIS fighter on "The Line", May 4, episode 4.The truth is that the ISIS fighter was killed and that no one had any problem with that. That guy was killed. We wanted to kill him. Gallagher stated that everyone was aboard. "It was to perform medical scenarios on him up until he passed away."In May, Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary, stated to reporters that the Navy was looking into Gallaghers comments. Gallagher could have been charged with perjury under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
