San Diego: US Navy SEALs have described their platoon leader, retired Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, as "evil," "toxic" and "perfectly OK with killing anybody that was moving," in video footage of interviews obtained by The New York Times.

Gallagher's war crimes case earlier this year gained international attention after US President Donald Trump intervened on his behalf despite strong objections from Pentagon leaders.

The officials warned that the president's move could damage the integrity of the military judicial system. The case also led to the Navy secretary's firing.

The footage published on Friday was part of a trove of confidential Navy investigative materials that the Times obtained about the prosecution of Gallagher, who was accused of battlefield misconduct in Iraq.