Military prosecutor removed from case of Navy SEAL charged with war crimes

The lead prosecutor in the court-martial of a US Navy SEAL charged with war crimes was ordered removed from the case on Monday because he electronically tracked email communications of defence lawyers without a warrant, a Navy spokesman said, Reuters reports.

Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, a decorated career combat veteran, is due to go on trial on June 10 in a case that has drawn the attention of US President Donald Trump.

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Gallagher, 39, is charged with murdering a wounded Daesh fighter in his custody, and with attempted murder in the wounding of two unarmed civilians – a school girl and elderly man – shot from a sniper’s perch.

Gallagher has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including obstructing justice in the case, which stems from his latest tour of duty in Mosul, Iraq, in 2017. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

The special operations platoon leader says he was wrongly accused and that fellow SEAL team members testifying against him, several under grants of immunity, are disgruntled subordinates who fabricated allegations to force him from command.