Former President Donald Trump recently shed light on the role Pete Hegseth, now Secretary of Defense, played in securing pardons for several service members accused of war crimes during Trump's first term. In an interview with The Spectator, Trump recounted how Hegseth frequently contacted him, advocating for the release of military personnel facing charges related to battlefield actions.

Trump described Hegseth's calls as focused on military matters, specifically on securing the release of individuals he believed were unfairly imprisoned for actions taken in the line of duty. "Whenever he called me, it was always to get somebody that was in trouble because he was too aggressive militarily out of a jail," Trump stated, emphasizing his belief that these service members were simply following their training.

The pardons in question, issued in November 2019, involved Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, Army Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, and Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Eddie Gallagher. Lorance was serving time for ordering soldiers to fire on unarmed Afghan civilians, Golsteyn faced charges related to the death of a suspected Taliban bomb maker, and Gallagher, though acquitted of murder, was demoted for posing with the corpse of an ISIS fighter. Trump's pardon restored Gallagher's rank.

Trump criticized what he perceived as a tendency within the military to punish soldiers for actions they were trained to perform. He praised Hegseth's commitment to these service members, stating, "Pete was really into that." Hegseth, a former Fox News host and National Guard member, had publicly defended Lorance, Golsteyn, and Gallagher prior to their pardons, referring to them as "warriors" not "war criminals."

During his confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense, Hegseth expressed his desire to ensure that legal processes do not hinder military operations. He emphasized the need for clear rules of engagement that allow service members to effectively combat the enemy. These comments drew scrutiny from lawmakers, who pointed out that fellow service members had reported Lorance and Gallagher's actions. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) questioned Hegseth's definition of "lethality," suggesting it seemed to favor those who commit war crimes rather than those who report them.

Hegseth's military service includes deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He has been awarded two Bronze Star Medals for his service.