Donald Trump announces he has fired Mark Esper, secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). This is the fourth government official that Trump has fired or demoted since election day.
Reports came out during election week that Esper was drafting a letter of resignation. In an interview with Military Times, Esper says he never had any intention of quitting.
Christopher C. Miller becomes the acting secretary of Defense. He was previously serving as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center Director. By federal law, Miller is serving his new position illegally.
Federal law requires that the deputy secretary becomes acting secretary if the secretary resigns or is removed. The Pentagon has no comment when reporters ask about this clear violation of the law.
White House press reporters find out an hour later that Trump Administration staff have been warned they’ll be fired if caught looking for a new job.
According to a senior administration official, John McEntee, director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, is spreading the word throughout the administration that if he hears of anyone looking for another job they will be fired.
The news is dismaying to many members of the Trump administration who worry especially about young staffers who will soon need other sources of income given the fact that President Trump lost the election.
Jake Tapper
Sources
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/09/trump-says-defense-secretary-mark-esper-has-been-fired.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-has-terminated-his-secretary-of-defense-after-losing-election-2020-11
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/11/09/exclusive-esper-on-his-way-out-says-he-was-no-yes-man/
https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1325870595238748160?s=20
https://twitter.com/attackerman/status/1325878044624564226?s=20
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