FILE PHOTO: Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) attends the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defense’s Spectrum Policy and the impact of the Federal Communications Commission’s Linked Decision on national security during the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) on Capitol Hill in Washington, USA May 6, 2020. Greg Nash / Pool via REUTERS
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth said Thursday that she would suspend confirmation of more than 1,000 military promotions until Defense Secretary Mark Esper offered guarantees on the promotion of a former White House aide who testified in the indictment. from President Donald Trump. judgment.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who provided some of the most damaging testimony during an investigation by the United States House of Representatives into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, is set for a promotion to colonel. However, there is concern that their promotion may be affected due to political reasons.
“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, “said Duckworth, a former Army National Guard helicopter pilot who lost both legs when he was shot down in Iraq in 2004.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is also reportedly considering her to be his running mate.
Duckworth intended to suspend the promotions of 1,123 senior military servicemen until Esper “confirms in writing that he did not block, or will not block, the expected and deserved promotion of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to colonel,” a statement said.
Duckworth’s action would make such promotions much more difficult and time consuming to approve, especially given the short time the Senate has before the November election.
Vindman and his twin brother were escorted from the White House in February.
“We send it on the way to a very different place, and the military can handle it the way they want,” Trump said at the time.
Esper said in November that Vindman should not fear retaliation for his testimony.
Report by Idrees Ali; additional reports by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Jonathan Oatis
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