The defense specifically has accused Navy lawyers of conducting illegal surveillance of defense attorneys and news media using electronic tracking software secretly embedded in emails sent to the defense. His defense team has filed motions seeking either to dismiss the charges altogether, or remove the lead prosecutor from the case, on grounds of alleged misconduct by the prosecutor and agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Gallagher 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. If convicted, the decorated career combat veteran could face life in prison.

He has pleaded not guilty to those and other charges, including obstructing justice. The charges stem from Gallagher’s deployment as a platoon leader to Iraq’s northern city of Mosul, in 2017. Gallagher is charged with murdering a helpless, wounded Islamic State fighter in his custody, and with two counts of attempted murder in the wounding of two unarmed civilians, a schoolgirl and elderly man, shot from a sniper’s perch. The finding came near the end of a two-day hearing that wrapped up just 10 days before Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher is due to stand trial in a case that has drawn the attention of U.S. Navy SEAL charged with war crimes said on Friday prosecutors who electronically tracked email communications of defense lawyers without a warrant violated the accused’s right to a fair trial. SAN DIEGO – The military judge presiding over the court-martial of a U.S. Sheriff's deputy arrested for DUI after trying to breach gate at San Diego naval base Soldier who helped kill bin Laden fumes over Navy's drag ambassador: 'Can't believe I fought for this bullsh-t' Navy SEALs training plagued by pervasive problems, according to investigation after death of sailor Navy SEAL training commander speaks out after scathing report on ‘earth-shattering’ candidate death

Navy seal accused of war crimes