Trump's pardon of a soldier who murdered an Iraqi prisoner sparks outrage
Michael Behenna, a former first lieutenant in the United States Army, received a pardon from President Trump on Monday. Behenna was sentenced to prison in 2009 for the unpremeditated murder of an Iraqi detainee while he was on deployment in Iraq.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders highlighted the handling of Behenna's claim that the killing was done in self-defense, and called Behenna a "model prisoner" who is "entirely deserving" of the presidential pardon. Not everyone sees it that way — the American Civil Liberties Union, for example, argued Behenna had no justification for killing the unarmed prisoner. But for others, it's Trump's character and the possible political motivations that make the pardon questionable.
The Atlantic's Adam Serwer writes that the decision represents Trump's disregard for the rights of certain groups of people, particularly if those rights conflict with the will of his voting base.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump has not shied away from this in the past, either. In fact, he has explicitly touted the idea of killing not just enemy soldiers, but even their non-combatant families.
Meanwhile, critics like Tony Karon, an editor at AJ+, believe the pardon has deeper roots that stretch beyond Trump, which could aid in building a dangerous precedent. Tim O'Donnell
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
The potential impact of Trump tariffs for the UK
UK goods exports to the US could be hit with tariffs of up to 20% seriously affecting the British economy
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube – a 'raw' and 'riveting' docuseries
The Week Recommends Channel 4's 'gripping' two-part show explores the Metropolitan police killing of an innocent man in the aftermath of 7/7
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
'Salute to those who served'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published