“Our army is supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy,” said Duckworth. “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 to be promoted by their superiors because of their performance. Not only will I sit down and let it happen, and none of my colleagues should.
“This goes far beyond any military officer, it is about protecting a merit-based system from political corruption and illegal retaliation,” he added.
An Esper spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Duckworth said his blockade of the older candidates would exempt Army General Gustave Perna, whom Trump nominated to help lead the administration’s efforts to develop and produce a coronavirus vaccine.
Vindman, who was on the staff of the National Security Council, heard President Donald Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last July and then openly testified before the House of Representatives indictment investigation.
Trump has publicly attacked Vindman, and the officer was kicked out of his job at the NSC after the Senate acquitted Trump of the charges that he abused his power by withholding security assistance to Ukraine for his political benefit.
As a result of his acquittal, Trump and his allies have also expelled other members of the administration considered unfair.
The White House withdrew Elaine McCusker’s nomination to be Pentagon Comptroller this year. McCusker did not testify in the House investigation, but it was revealed in emails that he questioned the legality of the White House budget office freeze on Ukraine financing. Since then, she has resigned as the Pentagon’s interim budget chief.
In addition, Gordon Sondland, who testified in the impeachment investigation, was removed from his post as ambassador to the European Union.
