Former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was acquitted of charges alleging he murdered the captured ISIS fighter Khaled Jamal Abdullah during a 2017 deployment, posted a warning on Instagram about a “corrupt prosecutor” from his case who joined a law firm.
The Hanzel Law Firm, which specializes in Military Law and Appeals, features Chris Czaplak on its website under a page entitled “About Our Firm.” However, the former prosecutor’s “about me” page appears to have been deleted, according to the Internet Archive.
“FYI if you end up using this law firm, they hired Chris Czaplak the prosecutor who was caught red handed spying on other attorneys, journalists and myself before my trial. Transparency and trust should be the foundation of our legal system! We deserve prosecutors who prioritize fairness and truth over personal interests. Let’s stand against corruption and demand better!” Gallagher wrote in an Instagram post with a screenshot of Czaplak’s now-deleted “about me” page.
“The impact of a corrupt prosecutor can be devastating, compromising the very fabric of our justice system,” he continued. “It’s time to ensure that those who hold power are held to the highest ethical standards. #UpholdingJustice #NoMoreCorruption.”
In 2019, a military judge removed the lead prosecutor on Gallagher’s case – Chris Czaplak – after he was accused of misconduct. Czaplak admitted to spying on defense attorneys and a member of the media with email tracking malware, Tim Parlatore, one of Gallagher’s civilian defense attorneys, previously confirmed to American Military News.
Gallagher maintains his innocence in Abdullah’s death. During an appearance on the podcast “The Line” in 2021, Gallagher discussed the case and said, “The grain of truth in the whole thing is that that ISIS fighter was killed by us [Gallagher’s unit] and that nobody at that time had a problem with it.”
That same year, Gallagher released his book “The Man in the Arena: From Fighting ISIS to Fighting for My Freedom,” which details his side of the events in his 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq and the ensuing legal battle to clear his name of the war crimes charges.
This article originally inaccurately stated that Gallagher “could have faced perjury charges.” The article has been corrected. American Military News regrets this error.
