I'm glad 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 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 and Behenna's record as a model prisoner while serving his sentence all influenced The President's decision to grant clemency.
After serving his nation under fire, and serving time, he now is free to quietly return to his ranch in Oklahoma.
Originally sentenced to 25 years for unpremeditated murder in a combat zone, the Army's highest appellate court noted concern about how the trial court had handled Behenna's claim of self-defense. 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 and questioned him at gunpoint about a roadside bombing that had killed two members of Behenna's beloved platoon.
Trump pardons ex-Army lieutenant convicted of killing suspected Al Qaeda terrorist in 2009
Only 24 at the time, he said he acted in self-defense when Mansur threw a chunk of concrete at him and lunged for the lieutenant’s handgun. Army prosecutors disregarded his defense claim.
The prosecution failed to disclose that their own expert's analysis supported the the young soldier's version of events. The expert felt so strongly that he reached out to the Behennas about his findings.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter requested a pardon for Behenna in February 2018 and renewed his request last month. Hunter 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.
Thank you for your service Lt. Behenna, may your days on your ranch be relaxing, healing and fulfilling.
The 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 and Behenna's record as a model prisoner while serving his sentence all influenced The President's decision to grant clemency.
After serving his nation under fire, and serving time, he now is free to quietly return to his ranch in Oklahoma.
Originally sentenced to 25 years for unpremeditated murder in a combat zone, the Army's highest appellate court noted concern about how the trial court had handled Behenna's claim of self-defense. 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 and questioned him at gunpoint about a roadside bombing that had killed two members of Behenna's beloved platoon.
Trump pardons ex-Army lieutenant convicted of killing suspected Al Qaeda terrorist in 2009
Only 24 at the time, he said he acted in self-defense when Mansur threw a chunk of concrete at him and lunged for the lieutenant’s handgun. Army prosecutors disregarded his defense claim.
The prosecution failed to disclose that their own expert's analysis supported the the young soldier's version of events. The expert felt so strongly that he reached out to the Behennas about his findings.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter requested a pardon for Behenna in February 2018 and renewed his request last month. Hunter 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.
Thank you for your service Lt. Behenna, may your days on your ranch be relaxing, healing and fulfilling.
