Friday, April 19, 2024
Friday, April 19, 2024
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) criticized President-elect Donald Trump's transition team for pulling defense secretary nominee and retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis from today's hearing on civilian control of the military.
Thornberry said he had talked to Mattis personally and that the retired general was “eager” to testify before the committee before Trump's team pulled him.
“On Tuesday night of this week, however, I was informed that the president-elect’s transition team would not allow Mattis to testify after all,” Thornberry said. “I think that is a mistake.”
Earlier in the day, Mattis testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will ultimately decide whether to confirm him if he is granted an exemption under the law.
Thornberry said he had “complete confidence” that Mattis would have answered the House Armed Services Committee's questions in a way that would have bolstered lawmakers' already considerable respect for him.
“It would have added strength to his position and gotten the partnership between him and our committee off to a good start. He recognized those advantages immediately,” Thornberry said. “Unfortunately, short-sightedness prevailed.”
The hearing is also meant to provide a forum for lawmakers to consider a measure that would amend existing law to allow Mattis to serve as defense secretary despite having spent fewer than seven years out of uniform.
“There are major principles of government involved with this exception, which has been requested for the first time in 67 years,” Thornberry said. “My intention as I made clear to the committee and to the transition team, in December and since, was to have Gen. Mattis come testify before us on his views on civilian control of the military before we vote on the exemption legislation."
Regardless, Thornberry said the committee should focus on national security priorities of the United States and support the legislation allowing Mattis to serve.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the committee's top Democrat, said he was disappointed that Mattis was forbidden from appearing and would oppose the legislation that would allow him to serve as defense secretary.
“It is against the law for Gen. Mattis to serve,” Smith said, arguing that the committee should have the benefit of his testimony before changing the law.
“It basically takes this committee out of the process,” he added.
The committee ultimately voted 34-28 along party lines to grant Mattis the exemption. The full House is expected to vote on the meausre tomorrow, while the full Senate approved it earlier in the day with an 81-17 vote.
UPDATE 5:00 p.m.: Smith subsequently senf a letter to his House colleagues, urging them to vote against the exemption. Read the letter here.