California GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter admits he’s taken photo with dead enemy – NBC News

SAN DIEGO — Earn. Duncan Hunter of California acknowledged taking a photo with a ineffective combatant all the plan thru his time as a Marine as he defended a Navy SEAL charged with a number of battle crimes, including killing a teenage fighter.

The Republican congressman, who used to be re-elected final November as he faces corruption costs, made the comments all the plan thru a town corridor Saturday in his San Diego-apartment district, the Union-Tribune reported.

Hunter has advocated for a pardon for Edward Gallagher, who’s charged with stabbing to loss of life a teenage Islamic Impart fighter below his care in Iraq in 2017 after which preserving his reenlistment ceremony with the physique.

Prosecutors acknowledged the Navy SEAL chief texted a photo of himself subsequent to the ineffective fighter and wrote he “received him with my wanting knife.” He’s furthermore accused of taking pictures two civilians in Iraq and opening fireplace on crowds.

Hunter acknowledged he furthermore posed for a photo subsequent to a ineffective combatant however acknowledged he did no longer text it or put up it to social media. The congressman acknowledged “reasonably a number of us bask in performed the exact comparable factor,” regarding fellow carrier contributors in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hunter referred to as the militia justice machine “injurious,” asserting it is some distance mosey by attorneys and bureaucrats intent on pursuing “battle opponents.” His offices did no longer return calls and emails searching out for observation Monday.

Gallagher’s attorneys bask in acknowledged he did no longer murder someone and that disgruntled SEALs made the accusations because they mandatory to in discovering rid of a tense platoon chief.

Dozens of Republican congressmen grunt Gallagher an harmless battle hero being unfairly prosecuted. President Donald Trump received him moved from the brig to raised confinement in a militia clinic with in discovering admission to to his attorneys and household.

Trump says he is pondering pardons for several American militia contributors accused of battle crimes.

Gallagher’s court-martial is made up our minds to open this week at Naval Irascible San Diego. Gallagher has pleaded no longer guilty to the total costs.

On town corridor, Hunter declined to observation on his dangle pending court case.

Hunter and his wife, Margaret, were indicted in 2017 on federal costs of illegally converting more than $250,000 in marketing campaign contributions for personal residing expenses. Each bask in pleaded no longer guilty and bask in their subsequent court listening to scheduled for July 29. Trial is made up our minds for later this twelve months.