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Defense Secretary @EsperDoD on @ThisWeekABC:
"I have full faith and confidence in (Modly) and Navy leadership"
Q: Did Trump want Crozier fired?
"This was Secretary Modly's call"... "I listened to the recs" of CNO and Joint Staff. Won't reveal if the supported him.
"I have full faith and confidence in (Modly) and Navy leadership"
Q: Did Trump want Crozier fired?
"This was Secretary Modly's call"... "I listened to the recs" of CNO and Joint Staff. Won't reveal if the supported him.
Biden not happy with Capt. Crozier's firing https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1246789098712584194
Esper: "We offered up weeks ago up to 2,000 respirators." Some w the hospital ships, some to NY, ready to ship them where needed
"I can't recall" if DIA warned about #coronavirus early on, Esper says. Then recounts a January-Feb timeline to show he has been "weeks ahead of this" in terms of preparing US mil forces and stockplies.
Steph: But this brief to the NSC was in December...
Steph: But this brief to the NSC was in December...
On readiness: @EsperDoD says "only 35" military members have been hospitalized, out of a force 2 million we're doing pretty good.
JUST IN: Military will wear face masks, Esper says, "We will have a directive coming out on that today..."... though they can't social distance on submarines, tanks, bombers "we are going to move toward face coverings."
Earlier on @jaketapper, Esper said Modly made a tough "decision that I support" and "how we hold leaders accountability." https://twitter.com/CNNSotu/status/1246793456166612992
Jake presses Esper why the capt was relieved w/o an investigation. Esper says one is now underway. Jake notes Adm. Mullen, former Joint Chiefs chairman, and Adm Stavridis, former NATO SACEUR, opposed Croziers firing.
Jake plays tape of Trump calling Crozier's letter to save troops "terrible."
Q: "Do yo think that's 'terrible' that he did that?
Esper: dodges, says investigation may come to him still
Q: "Do yo think that's 'terrible' that he did that?
Esper: dodges, says investigation may come to him still
So, Esper still has not said if he, Gen. Milley, or the CNO *agreed* with Modly's decision to fire Crozier. Only that he "supported" SecNav Modly's decision.
