Duckworth Releases Military Confirmations, Citing Evidence That Vindman Won The Promotion

Senator Tammy DuckworthLadda (Tammy) Tammy Duckworth In politics, as in baseball, it doesn’t end until it’s over. Congress pulls blows at the firestorm of Russian rewards Senate Democrats demand to see copies of Trump’s intelligence reports on Russian rewards MORE (D-Ill.) She lifted her grip on some military confirmations after she said Secretary of Defense. Mark EsperMark Esper White House CTO Chosen to Serve as Acting Chief Technology Officer for the Pentagon Congress Strikes Hits at Russian Firestorms Senate Democrats Demand to See Copies of Trump’s Intelligence Reports on Russian Rewards MORE confirmed that he did not block Lieutenant Colonel’s promotion. Alexander VindmanAlexander Vindman The Republican Party President pledges to protect whistleblowers after Vindman’s retirement about the ‘harassment’ of Marie Yovanovitch about Vindman’s retirement: he deserved better than this. Our country deserved better than this ‘Schiff to Vindman:’ Law does not matter to Trump. But do you care MORE to the colonel

Duckworth, a combat veteran who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, had said earlier this month that she intended to block Senate confirmation of 1,123 promotions from the US Armed Forces until Esper confirmed that Vindman did not face any obstacles in his promotion after appearing as a prominent witness in the impeachment investigation into President TrumpDonald John TrumpWayfair refutes QAnon-like conspiracy theory that he is trafficking children Stone criticizes the US justice system in the first television interview since Trump commuted his sentence The federal appeals court rules that the Trump administrator cannot withhold the federal grants from California sanctuary cities MORE.

“Donald Trump’s unprecedented efforts to further politicize our military by retaliating against Lt. Col. Vindman, for fulfilling his patriotic duty to speak the truth under oath, are inconceivable. I’m glad the Defense Department was finally able to make things clear that Vindman had earned himself and was ready to receive a promotion to Colonel, ”Duckworth said in a statement.

“We must always protect the merit-based system that underlies our Armed Forces from political corruption and illegal retaliation.”

Democrats have accused the Trump administration of trying to politicize the military after Vindman was removed from his role on the National Security Council and escorted out of the White House after his testimony.

The Washington Post reported last month that government officials voiced concern that Trump would block Vindman’s promotion to full colonel due to his actions during the impeachment investigation.

“Our army is supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy,” Duckworth said when he first announced that he would block military confirmations. “It is simply unprecedented and it is wrong for any Commander-in-Chief to meddle in routine military affairs, whether or not he has personal vengeance against a Soldier who did his patriotic duty and spoke the truth: a Soldier who has been recommended for promotion. by their superiors because of their performance. “

Vindman, who was at the details of the Defense Department, returned to a position there after his expulsion from the White House. His twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, who also served on the National Security Council, was fired from his post on the same day as his brother.

Vindman finally announced last week that he would be retiring from the Army after serving on the branch for more than two decades. Amb. David Pressman, a lawyer for Vindman, said in a statement that his client was withdrawing “after it has been made clear that his future within the institution he has properly served will be limited forever.”