Duckworth, a combat veteran who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, seeks written confirmation from Defense Secretary Mark Esper that he has not and will not prevent Vindman, a decorated veteran, from being promoted to the rank of Colonel.
Duckworth’s power play, which his office described as “unprecedented in modern history,” takes advantage of the unanimous consent procedures in the Senate that are used to conduct their businesses efficiently. Typically, a host of uncontroversial military promotions, like the ones Duckworth is delaying, would be approved at once with just a few words exchanged on the floor between Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and whoever the President is.
But instead of giving his consent to approve the promotions, Duckworth objected, which means McConnell would have to go through the lengthy process of filing motions to get past what amounts to his filibuster.
Her move also carries some risk, as she could be criticized for delaying promotions and salary increases for hundreds of deserving service members over what some will consider a political disagreement with Trump.
A defense official said the Defense Department “received the notification from the senator’s office last night and the secretary is aware.”
A Pentagon official said later Thursday: “It is disappointing that Senator Duckworth willingly hinders the careers of more than a thousand deserving Army officers, many of whom are deployed abroad defending our country. Furthermore, among those officers There is the next nominated Head of Government, the National Guard Office, who, if confirmed, would be responsible for directing tens of thousands of Guard members deployed across the country to help local communities fight COVID-19. “
Lisa Lawrence, a Pentagon spokeswoman, previously told CNN that “the Department follows applicable laws and regulations regarding the development and review of officer promotion lists and sends them to the White House and the Senate. This list and any name on it have been and will be treated as usual. “
Vindman said he reported his concerns about a “sense of duty,” and defended his fellow witnesses from what he described as “reprehensible” attacks. Witnessing in his Army uniform as an active-duty soldier, Vindman invoked his father’s decision to leave the Soviet Union and come to the United States, noting that the testimony he was giving would likely kill him in Russia. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine to tell the truth,” Vindman said in a now-known line.
In February, Trump fired Vindman from his post as Ukraine’s top expert on the National Security Council. An Army spokesman told CNN at the time that Vindman had been reassigned to the Army Department. Later, the president defended Vindman’s dismissal from the National Security Council. Trump complained about the news coverage of the layoff in a tweet, saying the reports were made “as if I was only thinking about how wonderful he was. I don’t actually know him, never spoke to him or knew him (no! believe!).”
In a statement released Thursday, Duckworth said: “Our army is supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy. 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 revenge against a soldier. that he did his patriotic duty and told the truth, a soldier who has been recommended by his superiors for promotion because of his performance. I will not sit and let it happen, and none of my colleagues should. ”
Former national security adviser John Bolton said Thursday that he believes Vindman deserves to be promoted.
When CNN’s Jake Tapper asked “The Lead” if Vindman should get a promotion and what signal he would send to military officers if he didn’t, Bolton replied, “Look, based not only on your service, but also on the service of his twin brother at the NSC, who were kicked out of their jobs early, I think they certainly deserve a promotion based on what I saw. “
Bolton went on to say, “You shouldn’t be discriminated against. I hope there is no one in the White House who is delaying or putting bureaucratic obstacles in the way. I think it would be a terrible sign. I think this is something. This type of corruption in this process. promotion, unfortunately typical of a number of things that have happened in the administration, I think it is a bad sign for all of our military. “
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