President TrumpDonald John Trump Republican Philadelphia official responsible for vote counting says office getting death threatsBiden will call governors, mayors about mask mandateTrump campaign voter fraud hotline flooded with prank callsMORE on Monday fired Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperWashington braces for unpredictable post-election periodPentagon officials keep low profiles as political battle ragesWorries grow about rudderless post-election PentagonMORE in what Republicans expect to be the first of several leadership changes during the final two months of the Trump administration.
The president has also indicated to allies that two top officials on his intelligence team are on the chopping block: FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina HaspelGina Cheri HaspelOvernight Defense: Is Trump going to fire Esper? | Head of nuclear security agency resigns | US military acknowledges two civilian injuries in SomaliaTalk grows of Trump firings at Pentagon, CIAWhy it’s time for a majority female Cabinet MORE.
Trump and some congressional Republicans have repeatedly and publicly complained about the two officials, angered that they were not cooperative in pursuing unproven allegations that the Obama administration illegally spied on the Trump campaign, or in Wrays case, allegations about Hunter Bidens business dealings.
FBI directors are appointed for 10-year terms, meaning Wray could stay on the job until 2027 if he is not ousted. Haspel was appointed to lead the CIA in 2018.
National security experts are deeply worried about the loss of Esper and questions about whether the acting secretary will be in over his head. Theyre also unnerved by the potential for disruption at the FBI and CIA during a presidential transition.
Esper seems like only the beginning, this is going to go on until noon on Jan. 20 so God help us all, said Dov Zakheim, a former foreign policy adviser and undersecretary of Defense to George W. Bush.
One administration official said Trumps anger could extend to public health agencies, whose leaders have at times undercut or broken with the president in giving guidance to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Trump could target Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield, the official said.
The president publicly mused at a rally this month about firing Anthony FauciAnthony FauciBiden will call governors, mayors about mask mandateNationals invite Biden to throw out first pitch on opening dayWashington braces for unpredictable post-election periodMORE, the head of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases. But Fauci is not a political appointee and thus cant be fired directly by Trump.
The purge could extend to lower level White House staffers in the coming days and weeks. John McEnteeJohn (Johnny) David McEnteeUSAID deputy leader ousted in staff shakeup amid vote countingFormer Trump campaign adviser named to senior role at CIA: reportBen Carson notes reveal he’s ‘not happy’ with White House official: reportMORE, the head of the Presidential Personnel Office, reportedly warned that staff who are discovered to be looking for other jobs will be fired.
One administration source said that some agencies had not received such word from the White House and instead learned of it from the press, and remarked that it was a sign McEntee was concerned about people leaving.
The threat puts White House staff in a difficult position, as Joe BidenJoe Biden Republican Philadelphia official responsible for vote counting says office getting death threatsBiden will call governors, mayors about mask mandateTrump campaign voter fraud hotline flooded with prank callsMORE has been projected as president-elect and will take office in January, but Trump has refused to concede.
The presidents family and allies have expressed frustration at Republicans they believe have been insufficiently loyal in the days after the election, firing warning shots at those who havent been vocal enough about the need for investigations into election fraud that would back up the presidents unsubstantiated claim that the election was stolen from him.
Widespread firings could also complicate the lame duck period between the election and when Biden takes office.
Joe Biden is President-elect, and its past time for Republican leaders to step up and explain that reality to President Trump before he takes further rash and attention-seeking acts that damage America, said Sen. Jack ReedJack ReedLet’s care for America’s health care workers like they care for usOvernight Defense: How members of the Armed Services committees fared in Tuesday’s elections | Military ballots among those uncounted in too-close-to-call presidential race | Ninth US service member killed by COVID-19Reed wins fifth term in SenateMORE (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee and a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence.
Democratic leaders also expressed alarm over what they view as the president creating a power vacuum in the national security space that could linger for two months until Biden is sworn in as the next president.
Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiBiden co-chair says wins in traditionally red states ‘will give him some coattails and some leverage’ with CongressDemocratic hopes on health care rest with Georgia Senate racesFive takeaways from the battle for the SenateMORE (D-Calif.) accused Trump of seeking to sow chaos in the U.S. and around the world in his final days in office.
The timing of this dismissal raises serious questions about Trumps planned actions for the final days of his Administration, Pelosi said. Again and again, Trumps recklessness endangers our national security. It is disturbing and dangerous that, at this precarious moment, our military will now be led by an official who has not been confirmed for this position by the Senate.
Bidens campaign and transition team declined to comment.
Some Republicans have suggested the move to fire Esper is not only to let off steam, but also to flex his power and authority after the race for Biden was called just two days earlier.
There is also a theme among the officials who Trump is considering ousting: They have pushed back against a president who demands loyalty above all else.
Trump and Espers relationship took a turn for the worst over the summer when the president almost fired Esper after his Defense chief publicly voiced opposition to the idea of using active duty troops to deal with civil unrest.
Esper in an interview with the Military Times acknowledged tensions with the White House over a series of crises and conflicts, while dismissing criticism that he is a yes man or as his critics dubbed him, Yesper.
My frustration is I sit here and say, Hm, 18 Cabinet members. Whos pushed back more than anybody? Name another Cabinet secretary thats pushed back, Esper told the Military Times last Wednesday. “Have you seen me on a stage saying, Under the exceptional leadership of blah-blah-blah, we have blah-blah-blah-blah?”
Defense experts are worried that Acting Secretary Christopher Miller will be in over his head.
If Trump is going to pursue a scorched Earth strategy, will the acting secretary stand up to him? I think the answer is probably not, Zakeheim said.
Trump has similarly soured on Wray and Haspel for their opposition to political matters that the president has publicly pushed.
Trump and his allies have become increasingly frustrated that Wray would not meet the presidents calls for the launch of a formal investigation to examine the business dealings of his Hunter Biden, or his resistance to firing officials tied to the 2016 Russia probe that Trump has alleged have acted improperly.
While the president and his allies have long distrusted Haspel, Trump’s frustration with his CIA chief reportedly began to bubble over after Haspel and other intelligence officials opposed the decision by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) John RatcliffeJohn Lee RatcliffeOfficials on alert for potential cyber threats after a quiet Election DayFederal official says voting security remains strong as polls begin to closeHillicon Valley: Officials express confidence in voting security amid early technical glitches | Unidentified robocall told millions to ‘stay home’ ahead of Election Day: report | QAnon’s danger rises with divisive electionMORE to declassify documents related to the probe into origins of the Russia investigation led by the Department of Justice’s John DurhamJohn DurhamThe biggest election losers: Political media and pollstersTrump remarks put pressure on BarrTrump demands Barr investigate Hunter BidenMORE.
Reuters reported in October that Haspel opposed the release of such material, citing concerns that the public disclosure would risk revealing the intelligence community’s methods of obtaining such information.
Still, while their refusal to get mixed up with politics may have led to the deterioration of their relationship with Trump, it may also endear them with Democrats.
Some House Democrats have indicated that they are open to the idea of Wray staying in his post when Biden takes office, but in the meantime, Democrats are warning the Trump administration not to fire more officials, warning that doing so further exposes the U.S. to threats posed by foreign adversaries.
Im deeply troubled by President Trumps firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper just 72 days before a new president will be inaugurated and during a growing global pandemic, said Sen. Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerHillicon Valley: Officials on alert for potential cyber threats after a quiet Election Day | Officials warn delayed vote count could lead to flood of disinformation | Facebook takes down massive ‘Stop the Steal’ group Officials on alert for potential cyber threats after a quiet Election DayOfficials warn delayed vote count could lead to flood of disinformation MORE (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
President Trump must not invite further volatility by removing any Senate-confirmed intelligence or national security officials during his time left in office.
Morgan Chalfant contributed.
Home>>Sports>>President Trump on Monday fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper in what Republicans expect to be the first of several leadership changes during the final two months of the Trump administration.
Sports