Trump Pardons Lt. Michael Behanna

(The Washington Post) President Trump has pardoned Michael Behenna a former Army lieutenant who served five years in prison for the murder of an Iraqi prisoner in 2008. Behenna who was an Army Ranger in the 101st Airborne Division was convicted of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone and sentenced to 25 years after killing Ali Mansur a detainee and suspected al-Qaeda member. Behenna who stripped Mansur naked interrogated him without authorization and then shot him twice has claimed repeatedly that he was acting in self-defense. In a Monday evening statement the White House announced Trumps decision to sign an executive grant of clemency which amounts to a full pardon citing support from the military community and Oklahoma elected officials some of whom had recently renewed a public campaign for the presidents order. Behenna the statement said was entirely deserving." However some condemned the move as mercy for a man who showed none to Mansur.