On March 20th, 2009, Army Ranger 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing Ali Mansur, a known Al Qaeda operative while serving in Iraq. Mansur was known to be a member of an Al Qaeda cell operating in the lieutenant’s area of operation and Army intelligence believed he organized an attack on Lt. Behenna’s platoon in April 2008 which killed two U.S. soldiers and injured two more. Army intelligence ordered the release of Mansur and Lt. Behenna was ordered to return the terrorist to his home.
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During the return of Mansur, Lt. Behenna again questioned the Al Qaeda member for information about other members of the terrorist cell, and financial supporters. During this interrogation, Mansur attacked Lt. Behenna, who killed the terrorist in self-defense. The government subsequently prosecuted Lt. Behenna for premeditated murder.
In 2014 Michael Behenna was offered parole after serving 5 years for killing the Al-Qaeda operative in 2008.
Behenna was serving a 15-year sentence in a military prison at Fort Leavenworth.
On Monday, while out with his mother, 1st Lt. Behenna got a call from President Donald Trump who pardoned him.
As military advocate Beverly Perlson said, “What joyous news!!! Finally, the Good Soldier who fought for his country and protected his Brothers receives recognition from his Commander-in-Chief that he is a Good Soldier and a free man and finally able to enjoy all the freedoms he sacrificed and fought to provide to all of us!”
This was only possible because of the man who sits in the White House today.
