This is the reprehensible, childish, vindictive, petty, pointless antics that preoccupy a White House overwhelmed by sickness, rioting, and bleak economics. Be sure to vote for more of this. Trump is more interested in making examples of those that would check his power than saving this country from sinking further.
Alexander Vindman is retiring after being bullied, by the commander in chief and his cronies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/u...peachment.html
[...]
Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, a decorated Iraq war veteran...[was] among scores of officers who have been picked to be promoted to full colonel this year.
[...]
But the White House had made clear to officials in the Pentagon’s office of personnel and readiness, which handles such matters, that Mr. Trump did not want to see Colonel Vindman promoted, officials said.
Mr. Trump’s allies at the White House asked Pentagon officials to find instances of misconduct by Colonel Vindman that would justify blocking his promotion, administration officials said on Wednesday.
On multiple occasions, including this week, the White House pressed the Pentagon to seek witnesses who would come forward and say that Colonel Vindman acted improperly, the officials said.
But Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy have been unable to produce such evidence, largely because it does not exist, according to one administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
[...]
Colonel Vindman’s lawyer, David Pressman, said in a statement that the officer was the victim of campaign of “bullying” and “intimidation” by the White House.
[...]
Mr. Pressman added, “Vindman did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the president and his proxies.”
This reminds me of the time when Trump claimed that some immigrants were kidnapping people and dragging them across the border bound and gagged in the back of trucks. Trump was repeatedly called out on it, so the White house started canvassing border control to come up with a story to back up his BS. Of course they found none.
Make up sh-t and justify it later, as long as Trump can discourage future whistleblowers. This is not how an American President should behave. This is how petty and scarey authoritarians do.
I wonder if Trump will try to f-ck with Vindman's retirement, like McCabe. What a child.