Senate confirmed Army Gen. Gustave Perna by unanimous consent to lead Project Warp Speed in its development of a coronavirus vaccine, before heading out for their 2-week recess over the July 4th holiday.
Gen. Gustave’s Senate confirmation as Project Warp Speed COO was not blocked by combat vet Sen Duckworth (D-IL), unlike 1,123 sr military promotions she’s blocking to secure written confirmation from Def Sec Esper of impeachment witness Lt Col Vindman’s expected promotion to Col.
Duckworth: “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 & told the truth...”
Duckworth: “...a Soldier who has been recommended for promotion by his superiors because of his performance. I won’t just sit by and let it happen, and neither should any of my colleagues.”
Duckworth concludes: “This goes far beyond any single military officer, it is about protecting a merit-based system from political corruption and unlawful retaliation.”
Atty for Lt Col Alexander Vindman who announced his retirement from US military:"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation & retaliation,the president of the US attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Btwn adhering to the law or pleasing a president."
"Between honoring his oath or protecting his career.Btwn protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers.These are choices no one in US should confront,especially one who has dedicated his life to serving it."-Vindman atty David Pressman
Senator Duckworth (D-IL): “Lt. Col. Vindman’s decision to retire puts the spotlight on Secretary of Defense Mark Esper’s failure to protect a decorated combat Veteran against a vindictive Commander in Chief.” duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-rel…
Senate Armed Services Democrat & combat veteran Tammy Duckworth will keep her hold in place of 1,123 senior U.S. Armed Forces promotions until Defense Secretary Esper provides “a transparent accounting of this disgraceful situation.”
Duckworth: “Secretary Esper’s failure to protect his troops sets a new, dark precedent that any Commander in Chief can interfere with routine merit-based military promotions to carry out personal vendettas...”
Duckworth: “...and retaliation against military officers who follow duly-authorized subpoenas while upholding their oath of office and core principles of service.”
Senate Armed Svcs Top Democrat Jack Reed:"There are still some important ?s about Lt Col Vindman’s exit from the military & we’ve got to get to the bottom of those facts.But what is indisputable to everyone,even President Trump,is Lt Col Vindman testified truthfully under oath."
Reed (D-RI) on Lt. Col. Vindman retiring: "It certainly looks as if his career was a casualty of this President’s partisan vendetta against truth tellers and whistleblowers."
Reed: "I’d like to believe that there is bipartisan concern about political interference with the promotion process, so I hope there’s a bipartisan effort to look into this matter."
Senate Armed Services Ranking Member Reed: “I have not seen the promotion list and don’t know whose names are on it. But we need answers directly from Secretary Esper about what role, if any, the Trump Administration played in this process."
US Army veteran Sen. Reed:“Lt Col Vindman is a hard-working,self-made,decorated combat veteran.He can leave the military with his honor & integrity intact.He once again acted in the interest of the Army & the country by putting the needs of others above his own career prospects."
House Intel Chair Schiff to Lt. Col. Vindman: "I know that this retirement is not how you envisioned your decorated Army career ending. It should not have ended this way. You should not have been subject to bullying and retaliation from this President."
