Sen. Tammy Duckworth declared on Thursday that she would block over 1,100 military promotions unless the Pentagon agrees to not stand in the way of the promotion of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was a key witness in the Trump impeachment agenda earlier this year.
Ex- Military Dem Launches Attack Against Armed Forces
Duckworth is a staunch Democrat and an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs after a helicopter crashed in 2004. It appears that her time serving our country did not give her a more profound sympathy for fellow military men and women because she proclaimed she would block 1,123 members of the armed forces unless her demands are satisfied. She will not comply unless Defense Secretary Mark Esper “confirms in writing that he did not, or will not block” Vindman’s “expected and deserved” promotion to colonel, USA Today reported.
Still Salty Over Impeachment Fail
Politicians have been dwelling on the fact they believe President Trump may not promote Vindman because of his ties to the impeachment trial against the president.
Under normal circumstances, the Senate would pass the list of potential promotions through a vote, but since Duckworth objected to the standard procedure, this now halts the process. It would then fall to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to file a notion to attempt to counter her objections.
Petty! https://t.co/Umsns5s7pO
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 3, 2020
“It is simply unprecedented and wrong for any Commander in Chief to meddle in routine military matters at all, whether or not he has a personal vendetta against a Soldier who did his patriotic duty and told the truth – a Soldier who has been recommended for promotion by his superiors because of his performance,” Duckworth said in a statement. “This goes far beyond any single military officer, it is about protecting a merit-based system from political corruption and unlawful retaliation.”
Her Demands Must Be Met or No Deal
She continued that she would only confirm to stop the hold up when Esper gave written agreement that the Trump administration would not block the promotion.
During the impeachment sham, Vindman, who served as a Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, testified fiercely against Trump and called his requests of Ukraine “inappropriate” and “improper.” He also referred to Trump as “insubordinate.” After the impeachment trial ended in Trump’s acquittal, Vindman was removed from his National Security Council position.
Playing petty political games with military promotions is distasteful and relatively surprising coming from a woman who is a veteran herself.