Retired Navy SEAL Chief Eddie Gallagher has accused Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) of trying to keep him in prison during his 2018 trial for war crimes, BizPac Review reports.
Gallagher, who was later acquitted and pardoned by then-President Donald Trump, recently released a video detailing his claims against Crenshaw.
In the video, Gallagher recounts how he and his allies sought help from Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL himself.
He says, “Dan told them, he’ll see what he can do.”
However, Gallagher alleges that Crenshaw failed to support him, despite 50 other congressmen signing a petition for his release.
“One congressman would not sign that petition. That was Dan Crenshaw,” Gallagher states.
Instead, Crenshaw allegedly wrote his own petition, which Gallagher describes as saying, “to keep me in prison, but just to let me see my lawyers.”
The March 18, 2019 letter partially reads, “Chief Gallagher’s family and friends have reported that he has not had sufficient access to his defense counsel…Given the gravity and complexity of the charges against him, Chief Gallagher’s ability to meaningfully participate in the preparation of his defense is crucial.”
After his acquittal, Gallagher claims he encountered Crenshaw at a Turning Point event, where the congressman avoided making contact.
Gallagher also shares that during a visit to Congress to thank those who had signed the petition for his release, he was informed by several congressmen that “Dan Crenshaw was actively working against me, behind the scenes.”
Gallagher accuses Crenshaw of trying to sabotage his support, stating, “He was going up to each of those congressmen…telling them not to support me, that I was guilty and that it was his community and they need to butt out and let him handle it.”
He believes Crenshaw’s actions were politically motivated, saying, “If Dan Crenshaw is willing to lie to gain favor with other politicians to climb that political ladder and pretty much throw somebody away for life, what do you think he’s doing to the American people?”
In addition to these accusations, Gallagher provides a screenshot of a message Crenshaw allegedly sent to retired SEAL David Goggins.
The message reads, “Pieces of [expletive] like Eddie Gallagher have tried to do that at my expense (after I tried helping him get out of prison!) That should never happen between team guys.”
Gallagher concludes his video by urging voters to consider a candidate’s character beyond their military service: “Just because someone is a Navy SEAL, or because they were wounded in combat, does not make them a good person; does not mean they have character. I want you to think about that next time you vote.”
Crenshaw has not yet commented on Gallagher’s allegations, but Gallagher offered to meet with him in Washington, D.C., saying, “Dan, if you want to have a conversation, I’ll be in DC next week actually doing real work to support our brothers in the teams; and our law enforcement; and our first responders. So if you wanna have a conversation, you know where to find me buddy.”
