U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville blasted “journalists” Wednesday for accusing him of backing off his holds on military promotions.
Tuberville (R-Auburn) continues to place holds on Pentagon general and flag-officer promotions due to the Department of Defense’s decision to pay abortion-related expenses for servicemembers.
Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin accused claimed in a post on social media that Tuberville was reversing his holds.
“About face…Sen Tuberville reverses course,” Griffin said on X, “agrees to lift his hold on Marine #2 officer after punishing Marines for policy it had no control over. Marine Commandant Remains Hospitalized following heart attack. Tuberville Moves to Lift Blockade for his #2.”
About face…Sen Tuberville reverses course, agrees to lift his hold on Marine #2 officer after punishing Marines for policy it had no control over. Marine Commandant Remains Hospitalized following heart attack. Tuberville Moves to Lift Blockade for his #2. https://t.co/0I7QkyctDA
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) November 1, 2023
Griffin’s based her statement on a report that Tuberville is working to the promote the Marine Corps. second in command as the current commandant, Gen. Eric Smith, remained hospitalized following a heart attack.
“The senator responded to Griffin’s post, reminding her that his hold is only on unanimous consent of all military promotions,” Tuberville said on X.” [Nine] months in and the ‘journalists’ reporting on this have zero understanding of what’s happening. My hold is on unanimous consent, not the individuals. They can be voted on one at a time…just like always. Chuck Schumer could’ve been calling these [nominations] up since February. He’s refused.”
9 months in and the "journalists" reporting on this have zero understanding of what's happening.
My hold is on unanimous consent, not the individuals. They can be voted on one at a time…just like always.
Chuck Schumer could've been calling these noms up since February. He's… https://t.co/vrHN9afJZ6
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) November 1, 2023
This is not the first time the Fox News reporter criticized Tuberville over the holds. Earlier this week she suggested that his holds were responsible for the commandant’s health issue.
“Sen. Tuberville still has hold on promotions,” she said. “He says it’s not hurting military. It is. No vice commandant confirmed so US Marines who are deploying to Mideast have 3 star acting Commandant. Wishing Gen. Smith speedy recovery. He was working two jobs due to Tuberville hold.”
Sen Tuberville still has hold on promotions. He says it's not hurting military. It is. No vice commandant confirmed so US Marines who are deploying to Mideast have 3 star acting Commandant. Wishing Gen Smith speedy recovery. He was working two jobs due to Tuberville hold. https://t.co/1mAO0NHUMY
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 30, 2023
Her post got echoed by the Alabama Democratic Party, who called on the senator to resign over the issue.
Our Top Marine, after months of working two positions and sleeping 5 hours a night due to the Tuberville military holds, suffered a heart attack and we have no acting commander to replace him. @SenTuberville This is on your shoulders. Resign. https://t.co/vFzj2VlSbp
— Alabama Democrats (@aldemocrats) October 31, 2023
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
