Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said shes planning to block every single military promotion unless Secretary of Defense Mark Esper promises that he didnt or will not block the promotion of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified against President Donald Trump in the impeachment inquiry.
Vindman, who at the time sat on the National Security Council, told lawmakers that Trumps call with Ukraines president was “inappropriate.”
Duckworth, citing anonymously-sourced reports, said shes requiring Esper to confirm in writing that he did not or will not block Vindmans promotion, which she described as expected and deserved.
“Our military is supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy. 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,” she said in a statement.
“I wont just sit by and let it happen, and neither should any of my colleagues. This goes far beyond any single military officer, it is about protecting a merit-based system from political corruption and unlawful retaliation.”
The Department of Defense didnt respond to a request for comment.
Duckworth said shell block the Senate confirmation of 1,123 senior U.S. Armed Forces promotions until her demands are met.
Shes insisting Esper provide written confirmation of whether the Army Competitive Category promotion board included Vindman among its selections for promotion to Colonel.
If so, she is demanding to know whether the Army included Vindman on its list of promotions that it sent to the Pentagon and, if so, whether Esper or his designee will or has submitted the list of Army promotions to the White House that includes or included Vindman.
Esper told reporters earlier this year that the Pentagon protects all of its people “from retribution or anything like that.”
Trump, a Republican, was impeached in December 2019 but acquitted by the Senate. He repeatedly railed against Vindman, describing the military officer as a “Never Trumper.”
Vindman, who drew attention for refusing to name the person he gave details of Trumps call to, was removed from the council in February, ahead of his scheduled departure. The move that came because Vindman was insubordinate, according to the president.
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