Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, announced Thursday her intention to block Senate confirmations for 1,123 promotions from the US Armed Forces until Secretary of Defense Mark Esper confirms that he will not block the “expected and deserved “from Lt. Col. Alexander. Vindman
Vindman, a veteran of the Iraq war, served on the White House National Security Council and was the center of attention last year when he testified about President Trump’s phone call in July 2019 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that it became the heart of a Democrat-led trial investigation.
Vindman said he heard the call and filed a whistleblower complaint over concerns that Trump allegedly tried to pressure Zelensky into investigating Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who was on the board of one of the largest natural gas companies. from Ukraine.
Critics accused Trump of using much-needed military aid to Ukraine as leverage in his request to Zelensky.
Trump removed Vindman from office days after he was acquitted of two articles of impeachment in the Senate.
In a statement, Duckworth, also an Iraq war veteran who served as a helicopter pilot, accused Trump of trying to politicize the military.
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“Our army is supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy,” he said. “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. “
Duckworth said he will fail to deliver on his promise if Esper confirms in writing that he will not block Vindman’s promotion to Colonel.
