Kristian Saucier is a United States Sailor currently serving a one-year prison sentence for taking unauthorized photos inside the USS Alexandria. Saucier pleaded guilty to the charges last year for releasing unauthorized detention of defense information by taking photos of the Alexandria when it was in Groton, Connecticut in 2009. President Donald Trump is currently reviewing the case after being advised to seek a pardon by National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
Saucier was a 22-year-old machinist mate on the nuclear-powered attack submarine when he took the photos. He claims that he knew the photos were classified but also argued they were nothing more than service mementos that he could “use to show his family what he did in the Navy,” according to his lawyers. Ronald Daigle Jr., Saucier’s lawyer, claims that Saucier never shared the photos with an unauthorized recipient.
Daigle also stated that Saucier’s prosecution was political in nature. Saucier was prosecuted at the same time there was media-craze surrounding Hillary Clinton’s email scandal.
“The Justice Department at that time was under pressure to do something,” Daigle. said. “So he got prosecuted for it. I don’t think it’s fair because she didn’t get prosecuted for anything.”
Flynn and Daigle discussed the case in November 2016, shortly after Trump won the 2016 Election. The two men spoke for an hour, finally agreeing that Saucier should seek a pardon. Both Saucier and Daigle are optimistic about a pardon.
“He is very thankful and grateful that it seems like the president and White House are actually listening and maybe going to take a look at the case,” Daigle said. “So his hopes are up.”
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