President Trump announced Tuesday afternoon Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan will not move forward with his confirmation process to become permanent Secretary.
....I thank Pat for his outstanding service and will be naming Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper, to be the new Acting Secretary of Defense. I know Mark, and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2019
Notable: President Trump’s new pick to lead Pentagon, Army secretary Mark Esper, is from same West Point Class of 1986 as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 18, 2019
Shanahan was nominated as Acting Secretary after the departure of Secretary Jim Mattis last year. He was nominated to take the permanent position in May.
President Trump intends to nominate Patrick M. Shanahan as Secretary of Defense. pic.twitter.com/RaOXb09qMr
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) May 9, 2019
Shanahan's confirmation was stalled after news broke the FBI is investigating years old allegations of domestic abuse. Shanahan denied the allegation from his ex-wife in a statement Tuesday morning.
"After having been confirmed for deputy secretary less than two years ago, it is unfortunate that such a painful and deeply personal family situation from long ago is being dredged up and painted in an incomplete and therefore misleading way as a result of this nomination process. Though my marriage ended in sorrow and disappointment, I never laid a hand on my then-wife and cooperated fully in a thorough law enforcement investigation that resulted in her being charged with assault against me—charges which I had dropped in the interest of my family. Our story is not dissimilar to those of the many families facing the difficult challenges that come when a loved one struggles with substance abuse and other emotional issues as is the case with my former-wife. I wish nothing but the best for her and regret that my children’s privacy has been violated and they are being forced to relive a tragic situation that we have worked so hard as a family to put behind us."
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