https://www.foxnews.com/politi...mp-iraq-war-al-qaeda

Trump pardons ex-Army lieutenant convicted of killing suspected Al Qaeda terrorist in 2009

By Samuel Chamberlain | Fox News


President Trump has pardoned a former Army lieutenant who was convicted in 2009 of killing an Iraqi prisoner suspected of being an Al Qaeda terrorist, the White House announced Monday evening.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders cited "broad support" for Michael Behenna, of Edmond, Okla., "from the military, Oklahoma elected officials, and the public" -- including 37 generals and admirals, along with a former Pentagon inspector general -- as the reason for Trump's clemency grant. Sanders also said Behenna had been a "model prisoner" while serving his sentence.

"In light of these facts, Mr. Behenna is entirely deserving of this Grant of Executive Clemency," Sanders concluded.

A military court originally sentenced Behenna to 25 years for unpremeditated murder in a combat zone. However, the Army's highest appellate court noted concern about how the trial court had handled Behenna's claim of self-defense, Sanders said. The Army Clemency and Parole Board reduced his sentence to 15 years and paroled him in 2014, as soon as he was eligible.

Behenna acknowledged during his 2008 trial that instead of taking prisoner Ali Mansur home as he was ordered, he took the man to a railroad culvert, stripped him, and then questioned him at gunpoint about a roadside bombing that had killed two members of Behenna's platoon.

Behenna, who was 24 at the time, said he acted in self-defense when Mansur threw a chunk of concrete at him and reached for the lieutenant’s handgun. Army prosecutors said the argument didn’t stand up because Behenna was already pointing his weapon at the prisoner.

In 2018, Behenna's parents told Fox News the prosecution failed to disclose that their own expert's analysis supported their son’s version of events. The expert felt so strongly that he reached out to the Behennas about his findings.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter initially requested a pardon for Behenna in February 2018 and renewed his request last month. Hunter said he believed Behenna's conviction was unjustified because of erroneous jury instructions and the failure of prosecutors to turn over evidence supporting a self-defense claim. The White House statement said that former Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and "numerous members" of Oklahoma's congressional delegation had also expressed support for Behenna.

Fox News' Elizabeth Llorente and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Excellent, he never should been convicted anyway

He kills a terrorist - who had killed US troops - and he gets charged and tried for it? He should have gotten a medal instead. Or at the very least a weekend pass.

Something is seriously wrong with the upper escelons in the US Military. All Obama appointees no doubt. Sad. Regards 18DAI

They should kill all the terrorist, all the terrorists friends & families, & anyone who even thinks about being a terrorist & killing American military personnel, in a similar fashion.

The important point here is not that he killed a terrorist (who had already surrendered), but that the evidence clearly showed that he killed the terrorist in self defense. Forget that he should have been acquitted, this never should have gone to trial. I don't support shooting prisoners who pose no threat. This guy did pose a threat.

Thank you President Trump! Thank you!

The people who withheld the evidence supporting his claim to self-defense should be in prison.

quote:

Originally posted by recoatlift:
Thank you President Trump! Thank you!

Agreed!!

Good Call Mr. President

Thank You

I to agree with the president,you can't change these people,they are hell bent on killing Americans.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:

I to agree with the president,you can't change these people,they are hell bent on killing Americans.

Well, there seems to be one way to change them.

quote:

Originally posted by 18DAI:
Something is seriously wrong with the upper escelons in the US Military. All Obama appointees no doubt. Sad. Regards 18DAI

Railroading judgements to fit narratives has been an issue far longer than #44's election. We just saw the head of the Navy's legal dept, get fingered for undue command influence for a number of cases because he couldn't help himself and had to opine. In this age of warfare, every single mission gets reviewed by the JAG guys, ordinance is cataloged and recorded for each engagement. There's a paperwork trail for every single action.

There's a number of highly questionable actions Behenna did, hope this is the end and this book can be closed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: corsair,

good news

And even better news; I'm sure a few hundred libtard brains will explode over this.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
And even better news; I'm sure a few hundred libtard brains will explode over this.

Right on cue:

https://thehill.com/homenews/a...event-war-crimes-not

ACLU slams Trump for Behenna pardon: He 'should prevent war crimes, not endorse' them

BY JOHN BOWDEN - 05/07/19 10:08 AM EDT

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accused President Trump on Tuesday of endorsing war crimes after Trump pardoned a U.S. soldier convicted of murdering an Iraqi prisoner.

The group said that Trump's pardon of Michael Behenna for his 2009 conviction of murdering an unarmed Iraqi man whom he had accused of being involved in an explosive attack was tantamount to endorsing war crimes.

"This pardon is a presidential endorsement of a murder that violated the military's own code of justice," Hina Shamsi, the ACLU's national security project director, said in a statement.

"The military appeals court found Behenna disobeyed orders, became the aggressor against his prisoner, and had no justification for killing a naked, unarmed Iraqi man in the desert, away from an actual battlefield. Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, and top military leaders should prevent war crimes, not endorse or excuse them," Shamsi added.

In a statement Monday explaining the pardon, the White House pointed to wide support for Behenna within the military and his home state of Oklahoma, while not addressing the charge for which he was convicted.

"Mr. Behenna’s case has attracted broad support from the military, Oklahoma elected officials, and the public," the statement read. "In light of these facts, Mr. Behenna is entirely deserving of this Grant of Executive Clemency."

Behenna was originally sentenced in 2009 to 15 years in prison for the murder of Ali Mansur Mohamed, a suspected al Qaeda operative whom Behenna was tasked with releasing in his hometown due to insufficient evidence.

Oklahoma's attorney general praised Trump's decision, referring to the incident as "mistakes" that Behenna had admitted to making.

“I commend President Trump’s decision to grant a full pardon for Mr. Behenna,” state Attorney General Mike Hunter (R) said in a statement. “Mr. Behenna served his country with distinction, honor and sacrifice. He has admitted to his mistakes, has learned from them and deserves to move on from this incident without living under its cloud for the rest of his life."

Thank you Mr. President.

He was convicted during Obama's watch, and pardoned by Trump.

This is one of the many reasons why I voted for the guy.

quote:

Behenna, who was 24 at the time, said he acted in self-defense when Mansur threw a chunk of concrete at him and reached for the lieutenant’s handgun. Army prosecutors said the argument didn’t stand up because Behenna was already pointing his weapon at the prisoner.

Anyone care to interpret this statement?
It’s not legal to defend oneself if we’re pointing a gun at the time of the attack, especially if the attack includes a disarm attempt—?