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 thinks there is a “direct connection between” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who ended his bloc of military confirmations, and Wednesday's Republican presidential debate at the University of Alabama.

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

He said disgust within the Republican Party for Tuberville's actions blocking military appointments and promotions only grew as the spotlight turned to the Southern state Wednesday night for the debate at the University of Alabama.

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

Jones added, “But today is especially important, and I happen to think there is also a direct connection between the spotlight on Alabama and today's Republican event and Senator Tubreville's announcement of military promotions that he made yesterday. '

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

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

Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said he had a hold on 11 four-star generals but would lift his hold on about 400 military promotions after a nearly 10-month blockade.

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

He did this by postponing all high military promotions for almost ten consecutive months.

Tuberville said Tuesday he would eliminate most of them. Shortly thereafter, the Senate promoted approximately 425 military promotions in one move.

“There was a rising tide — no pun intended for the University of Alabama — there was a rising tide among his Republican colleagues challenging him in the Senate,” Jones said Wednesday. “That must have grown lately because of what happened here tonight.”

The former Democratic senator thanked Alabama Republicans for organizing the debate to draw more attention to the deep-red state.

'This is really not a debate tonight. You can't debate if the frontrunner isn't there. It's basically like a town hall,” Jones added of Wednesday's event.

President Joe Biden cheered the news that the blockade had finally been lifted as he took another shot at Tuberville.

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

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

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

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

“I still have, I think, eleven four-star generals in my hands. All others have been fully released by me,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

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

His withdrawal comes without securing a policy concession, while he faces the threat that Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer could propose a proposal that would end his blockade.

“We got all we could get,” he said.

His tactics drew angry resistance from the White House, which highlighted the pressure on the chain of command and on military families during the war in Ukraine and threats in the Pacific — exacerbated by Israel's war against Hamas. President Biden called his grip on military promotions “ridiculous.”

Tuberville began blocking confirmations to top Pentagon posts in March to protest a Pentagon policy enacted last year that provides paid leave and reimbursement for military personnel traveling to have an abortion.

That policy came after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving some military personnel stationed at bases where they could not access the proceedings.

Democrats have said Tuberville should show his objections on a policy issue by targeting Biden nominees involved in the policy, rather than non-political military officials.

He had signaled last week that he might finally give up after Senate Republicans took the floor to highlight military nominees who could not accept their new positions, or whose families could not enroll in new schools while the political knot remained. confused.

“Whether you believe it or not, Senator Tuberville, this is wreaking havoc on 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,” Graham asked.

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

“I know these people need promotions,” Tuberville said last week.