The Naval Criminal Investigative Service took \u201ccorrective action\u201d against seven special agents after the war crimes case against Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward \u201cEddie\u201d Gallagher collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First disclosed during a Sunday broadcast<\/a> of CBS news magazine \u201c60 Minutes,\u201d NCIS and military officials confirmed to Navy Times the following morning that the internal probe began six months ago and continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNCIS can confirm seven NCIS agents have either left the agency prior to the conclusion of the internal inquiry, have been reprimanded or have been reassigned as a consequence of the internal inquiry,\u201d wrote NCIS spokesman Tim Mahew in an email to Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNCIS leadership prides itself on a culture of accountability and investigative excellence. However, as NCIS discussed with CBS prior to the broadcast, we would not discuss the specifics of past or ongoing personnel matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Termed \u201caccountability actions\u201d by the Navy, they\u2019ve led to two special agents being allowed to retire. Another agent was transferred to work outside the agency. Three received \u201cadministrative sanctions issued in writing.\u201d Two others were reassigned within NCIS, although one of them was not issued sanctions and isn\u2019t counted on the list of seven punished personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked to elaborate on the probe and its initial findings, Mayhew said his agency \u201cdoes not comment on active investigations” and declined further comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Echoing the \u201c60 Minutes\u201d report, Pentagon officials also confirmed to Navy Times that three military attorneys are facing professional responsibility investigations <\/a>for their roles in the Gallagher case, although they declined to name the targeted trio.<\/p>\n\n\n\t