Washington (CNN) Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that he has "great faith in the military justice system" following President Donald Trump's interference last week in three military war crimes cases against Pentagon guidance. "So I'd say first of all that we have a very effective military justice system, I have great faith in the military justice system, our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are trained from day one about the laws of armed conflict and how to conduct themselves during wartime," Esper said in a response to a reporter's question about the President's actions on Friday. Trump granted full pardons to Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance and Army Major Mathew Golsteyn, and restored the rank of Navy SEAL Eddie R. Gallagher, who had been demoted. Lorance was found guilty in 2013 of second-degree murder for ordering his men to fire on three men on a motorcycle in Afghanistan. He pleaded not guilty in June.

Source: CNN November 17, 2019 15:33 UTC