Pentagon Chief Fires Navy Secretary
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: We are following some breaking news now over in Europe where a manhunt is underway as we speak after what's being called one of the largest art heists in post-war history. Police say the thieves targeted priceless treasures at the 300-year-old Green Vault Museum in Germany's Dresden Castle. A display case was smashed that contained about 100 pieces. One estimate says the 18th century diamonds, rubies and pearls that were stolen could be worth more than, get this, a billion euros. Police say two suspects were spotted on security camera slipping in through a window. The museum's director says the works are so well-known that it would be impossible to sell them on the open market.</s>BERMAN: Wow.</s>GOLODRYGA: Let's hope they retrieve that as soon as they can.</s>BERMAN: All right, this morning, an extraordinary controversy at the Pentagon. Varying accounts of why the secretary of the Navy was fired for his handling of a war crimes case involving a Navy SEAL. But on his way out the door, Secretary Richard Spencer is accusing the president of undermining the idea of military discipline. He writes, quote, I no longer share the same understanding with the commander of chief who appointed me in regards to the key principle of good order and discipline. I cannot, in good conscience, obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took. Joining me now, CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. It's a complicated case, Barbara, but at the end of the day, to have a secretary of the Navy say the president doesn't understand or agree with me on military discipline is really stunning.</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is not something I remember happening around here any time recently. The closest we came, of course, was former Defense Secretary James Mattis resigning because he felt he couldn't follow the president's orders on withdrawing troops from Syria. And that's what happens, if you're a seen official, senior military or uniformed or civilian, if you cannot follow the president's orders in good conscious, you have to step down. But this case is so wacky. I don't think there's any other way to put it. Spencer, at the same time, according to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who fired him yesterday, was engaged in a back channel negotiation with the White House to try and resolve the Gallagher case, to let a review of his status as a Navy SEAL go forward but somehow have a guarantee ahead of time at the end of that review, which was supposed to be impartial, that Gallagher would get to remain a Navy SEAL and retire honorably. You know, if you're following all of that and it's confusing to you, it is confusing up and down the hallways of the Pentagon this morning. But the real issue, kind of the bottom line, is how did we get here? And there is a good deal of dismay that President Trump, while he had the authority to intervene in these war crimes allegation cases, that maybe he should not have, according to many officials, and he should have just let the military justice system take its course. John.</s>BERMAN: In the case of Eddie Gallagher, a Navy SEAL, a petty office with the Navy SEALs, he was accused of war crimes. He was accused of killing an ISIS prisoner, also shooting innocent civilians. He was acquitted on every charge except one, which was taking a picture with a corpse, which is actually a very serious charge inside the Navy SEAL community. But he was acquitted of almost everything. He was demoted. The president reversed the demotion, right? But then the SEALs said, we want to take away his trident. We want to make a proclamation basically that Eddie Gallagher may not have been guilty of a crime, the court said, but he is not -- he should not be declared a Navy SEAL. He should not have the honor of being considered a Navy SEAL in his retirement. Now he will be allowed to retire with his trident as a Navy SEAL, which is exactly what the president wanted, correct?</s>STARR: What the president wanted, and let us be blunt, it is what Fox News wanted. Gallagher and other military personnel involved in these cases have been going to Fox News and have been on their air for a considerable period of time advocating for their cases. The president, we know, listens to Fox News, was listening to what Fox News was saying. This is not an opinion. This is a fact. The president listens to Fox News. So the bottom line concern this morning is very significant, which is the next time someone misbehaves in the military, if they put their case on Fox News and the president hears it, who is the president of the United States actually going to believe? You know, the issue of good order and discipline in the ranks really is sacrosanct. It is supposed to be maintained independently, impartially without outside influence. Mr. Trump had every right as commander in chief to intervene. He had the legal right to do so. But the question is, should he have done so and where did he get his information and did it all really come from those troops making their case on Fox News. John.</s>BERMAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, thank you very much for being with us this morning and making sense of what is a complicated story.</s>GOLODRYGA: And Barbara makes such an important point, where else did we hear the president turn to Fox News for information on one of its hosts bashing somebody, Ambassador Yovanovitch, right?</s>BERMAN: Yes.</s>GOLODRYGA: And you saw Mike Pompeo having to reach out to Sean Hannity asking what's going on here. So history repeat itself once again. Well, the race for president, a big endorsement is coming for Joe Biden today.</s>BERMAN: Don't say -- OK.</s>GOLODRYGA: Right?</s>BERMAN: You just gave away the mystery right there.</s>GOLODRYGA: I'm just reading what's in front of me, John.</s>BERMAN: You just gave --