Democrat Doug Jones says it’s ‘no coincidence’ successor Sen. Tommy Tuberville ended military block right before latest Republican presidential debate in Alabama

Former Sen. Doug Jones said he believes there is a “direct connection between” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville completing a block of military approvals and the Republican presidential debate at the University of Alabama on Wednesday.

Jones, a Democrat who served only a partial term before being defeated by Republican Tuberville, said his successor acted tactically, deciding to finally end his nine-month blockade at this time.

He said revulsion within the GOP over Tuberville’s move to halt military appointments and promotions is only growing as attention turns to the Southern state for a debate at the University of Alabama on Wednesday night.

“We always like to see events like this here,” Jones said at a news conference with President Joe Biden’s deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks and Alabama Rep. Barbara Drummond.

Jones added, “But today is especially important, and serendipitously, I think there is also a direct connection between the focus on Alabama and today’s Republican event and Senator Tubreville’s release of the war ads he did yesterday.”

Sen. Tuberville on Tuesday finally lifted his blockade on hundreds of military promotions after members of his own party joined Democrats in pressuring him to relent.

Former Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones said Wednesday there is a “direct connection” between the timing of Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s end to his blockade of his military appointments and the Republican presidential primary debate.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said he would retain control of 11 4-star generals but would relinquish his overall control over the promotions of about 400 military personnel after a nearly 10-month blockade.

The Alabama Republican and former football coach used his influence as a member of the Armed Services Committee to protest the Pentagon’s payment of abortion-related travel expenses.

He did this by pausing promotions in the senior military for nearly 10 straight months.

Tuberville said Tuesday he would give up most of them. Soon after, the Senate promoted some 425 military personnel in one move.

“There was a growing tide — no pun intended at the University of Alabama — there was a growing tide among his fellow Republicans to challenge him in the Senate,” Jones said Wednesday. “It must have intensified recently due to today’s event.”

The former Democratic senator thanked Republicans in Alabama for hosting a debate designed to bring more attention to the deep red state.

“This is really not a debate tonight. You can’t argue when there’s no leader here. It’s really kind of like a town hall,” Jones added about Wednesday’s event.

President Joe Biden welcomed news of the blockade’s final lifting while taking another swipe at Tuberville.

“Our service members are the backbone of our country and deserve to receive the pay and promotions they deserve. In the end, it was all pointless,” Biden wrote in a statement.

“Senator Tuberville and the Republicans who supported him needlessly harmed hundreds of service members and military families and threatened our national security – all to advance the party’s agenda. I hope no one forgets what he did,” he said, adding: “Those who serve this nation deserve better.”

Jones spoke alongside President Joe Biden’s deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks and Alabama Rep. Barbara Drummond just hours before the fourth Republican presidential primary debate at the University of Alabama on Wednesday.

Tuberville’s actions affected approximately 400 officers and their families, as well as lower-ranking officers in the military. Pentagon leaders said the hijackings threatened national security.

“I think I still have 11 four-star generals in my hands. I have completely released everyone else,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“It was practically a draw. They didn’t get what they wanted. We didn’t get what we wanted,” he said.

His retreat comes without winning political concessions, although he faces the threat that Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer will introduce a proposal that would end his blockade.

“We got everything we could,” he said.

His tactics drew an angry pushback from the White House, which highlighted the strain on the command structure and military families amid the war in Ukraine and threats in the Pacific exacerbated by Israel’s war with Hamas. President Biden has called his views on military promotions “ridiculous.”

Tuberville began blocking confirmations for top Pentagon positions in March in protest of a Pentagon policy adopted last year that provides paid leave and reimbursement to military personnel who travel for abortions.

The policy came after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving some service members stuck on bases where they did not have access to the procedure.

Democrats said Tuberville should demonstrate his dissent on policy issues by targeting Biden’s political nominees rather than non-political military officials.

Last week, he signaled he might finally give in after Senate Republicans spoke out to highlight military nominees who failed to fill their new posts or whose families were unable to enroll in new schools while the political knot persisted. . confused.

“Whether you believe it or not, Senator Tuberville, this does enormous damage to our military,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, a Donald Trump ally like Tuberville who represents a state with a strong military presence.

“Why would you punish them for something they had nothing to do with?” asked Graham.

“Guys, if this continues, people will leave,” he said.

“I know these people need to be promoted,” Tuberville said last week.