Why Was a Navy Captain Removed From Command?
Plus, Trump takes Biden's call.
Welcome back to the Nuts & Bolts newsletter.
Early last week, Capt. Brett Crozier (pictured) sent a letter—that was subsequently leaked—to Navy officials seeking help for a Covid-19 outbreak on his ship, the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, now stationed in Guam. He wrote, “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors.”
As of yesterday there were 173 confirmed Covid-19 cases on the aircraft carrier that holds nearly 5,000.
Crozier has been removed from command of the Roosevelt and reassigned elsewhere by order of Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly. To make matters worse, he has tested positive for the coronavirus since his removal.
Why was Crozier removed?
Modly said he caused unnecessary alarm and broke chain of command. Here’s Modly ripping Crozier in an expletive laced rant over the Roosevelt’s PA system:
Here’s what the Roosevelt’s crew had to say when their captain departed:
Modly recently changed his tone:
After initially supporting Modly’s decision, President Trump said yesterday that he might “get involved” in the case. He referred to both Modly and Crozier as good people.
From somewhere in his basement I think, Biden said it was almost criminal how Crozier was being treated.
Crozier isn’t the only one facing heat from the Trump administration. Last week, Michael Atkinson, former Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, was fired. Atkinson is the one who—in carrying out his job—delivered the whistleblower’s complaint to Congress which led to Trump’s impeachment. Atkinson is only the most recent of several public servants associated with Trump’s impeachment to be removed from their positions.
However, unlike those such as Gordon Sondland and Alexander Vindman, Atkinson’s job was not to implement Trump’s policies. His job was to carry out the law as an independent auditor. He released the following statement on Sunday:
After 9/11, Atkinson entered public service as a lawyer in the Justice Department where he served for 15 years. In 2018, he was nominated by Trump to the position Trump just fired him from.
Plot twist: Trump accepted a phone call from Biden yesterday in what is being called a “really wonderful, warm conversation” by both sides. The former vice president called to advise the president on how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Fortunately for those of us that love political drama, the positive vibes didn’t last long. After the call, the campaigns went back to doing what campaigns do.
To Whom It May Concern: Trump Comedy Show Edition
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Housekeeping
You may be wondering why the hell you received the Nuts on a Tuesday morning (before, it only came on Sunday). Well, like I said from the beginning and referred to Sunday morning, things are fluid.
When I have an update on a hot topic in the news that you’re wondering about, but don’t want to look into, I want to be able to send it out ASAP.
When I have a hot take, I want you to get it before it cools off (an incredibly short window of time).
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