Washington (CNN) Secretary of Defense James Mattis fired two top Guantanamo Bay officials on Monday over a "loss of confidence," a senior defense official tells CNN. "Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis rescinded the designations of Harvey Rishikof as the Director of the Office of the Convening Authority for Military Commissions and as the Convening Authority for Military Commissions. Additionally, William S. Castle, acting General Counsel, rescinded the designation of Gary Brown as the Legal Advisor to the Convening Authority" Pentagon spokesperson Tom Crosson said in a statement provided to CNN. Crosson said that Mattis has appointed Jim Coyne, who currently serves as the general counsel at the Defense Logistics Agency, as the acting convening authority. There are several hearings underway pertaining to inmates at the detention facility but the Pentagon said these personnel actions "do not impact ongoing (Office of the Convening Authority for Military Commissions) hearings and proceedings."

Source: CNN February 06, 2018 00:33 UTC