Kristian Saucier, the former U.S. Navy sailor who served a year behind bars for taking photos of classified areas in a nuclear submarine, has been pardoned, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Friday.
Saucier recently received a letter from the Department of Justice saying it was taking a new look at his request for a pardon. Although he was released from jail last year, he remained under house arrest.
Trump had denounced the government’s handling of Saucier’s case, calling it a political move and saying it contrasted with the velvet-gloved response to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s mismanagement of classified information through a private server.
“The president has pardoned Kristian Saucier, a Navy submariner,” Sanders said in a press briefing Friday afternoon. “Mr. Saucier was 22 years old at the time of his offenses and has served out his 12-months sentence. He has been recognized by his fellow service members for his dedication, skill and patriotic spirit.”
“While serving, he regularly mentored younger sailors and served as an instructor for new recruits. The sentencing judge found that Mr. Saucier’s offense stands in contrast to his commendable military service. The president is appreciative of Mr. Saucier’s service to the country.”
Saucier was in disbelief when he learned Friday that Trump had granted him a pardon, his wife, Sadie, told Fox News.
“It hasn’t set in, honestly,” she said. “I called him at work and told him, and all he could say was ‘What? What?’ I said: ‘Honey, we’re normal now. We can have a normal life, be a normal family.’ He doesn’t have to wear an ankle bracelet anymore.”
Saucier’s attorney praised Trump for doing what, in his words, the Obama administration had neglected to do.
“We’re so excited,” Ronald Daigle, the attorney, told Fox News. “This is going to change his life. He’ll be able to find employment, he’ll be able to carry on with his life. We can’t believe it.”
“We are so grateful for our president for this,” Daigle said. “We’ve been passed over by the previous administration, and this president took the time to look into this matter and made the right decision, in our view.”
Saucier, who served as a machinist’s mate aboard the USS Alexandria from 2007 to 2012, used his cellphone to photograph parts of the submarine’s nuclear propulsion system while it was docked at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Conn.
Saucier, who has a 2-year-old daughter, began his sentence in October 2016 at the Federal Medical Center at Fort Devens, Mass. He was released a year later, though he was placed under house arrest.
He was convicted of unauthorized retention of national defense information, which is a felony, and received an “other-than-honorable” discharge from the Navy. He faced a possible 10 years in jail, his lawyers said.
Good, now arrest Clinton and lock her away.
You know, we heard you say if you were president Hillary would be locked up.
Why did Trump wait so long? His hands are tied in so many ways. Notice I didn’t go there and write small. I wonder if he is able to get away and watch the television shows and programs regular Americans do? Then he can suffer with My Pillow every 20 minutes …Will Steve Harvey run in 2020? Yes I’m being fecicious.T.V. programs…like zombies are programmed.
Trump must appear pro military to ensure more cannon fodder for Israel…. ..parade coming in November, pardon the navy photographer …blah blah blah …all part of the con
My thoughts exactly mary.
He stacked his cabinet with lots of brass (military goons).
Was that not, at the least, peculiar?
Trump, if he is the outsider being portrayed, will need full military support domestically. This potentially applies to both of the following scenarios. There could be a move to oust him via a coup. The reverse could hold true as well. The reverse is possible as well, a coup upon the swamp. If this happens, it would have to go down all within a very short period of time. Once the lights come on, the cockroaches scatter.
Just maybe the Clinton’s are getting his room