President Trump on Tuesday called Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., to tell him his plans to push out acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan after a media report revealed a domestic dispute nearly a decade ago between the former Boeing executive and his then-wife.
“He said, ‘I wanted you to be the first one to know we’ve come to a decision that it would be best for all parties and for the country, if he withdrew his name as the nominee,'” Inhofe recalled in an interview Tuesday in which he described his conversation with the president.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that in 2010 Shanahan’s then-wife accused Shanahan of hitting her, but she was ultimately charged with assaulting him and Shanahan denies ever striking his wife. The charges against Shanahan’s wife were dropped.
According to Inhofe, President Trump moved quickly after the story was published to push out Shanahan, who he had announced as his nominee for defense secretary on May 9.
Inhofe said Trump did not discuss “any specific allegations” against Shanahan but described them as “allegations that would be very uncomfortable and really not worth making sacrifices.”
Inhofe said he “was surprised” by the call, but told the president, “I’m sure the decision between the two of you was a good decision in light of the allegations.”
Democrats used Shanahan’s ouster to bash the president and his foreign policy, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called “appalling.”
The opening at the Defense Department came as GOP senators were receiving a briefing on plans to send 1,000 troops to the Middle East in response to Iranian aggression in the region.
The position has lacked a permanent secretary since Jim Mattis resigned on Dec. 31, 2018.
While Trump had nominated Shanahan last month, his nomination was never formally sent to the Senate.
“This is a very difficult time with everything going on in Iran and all the provocations and counter reactions,” Schumer said. “To not have a secretary of defense at this time is appalling, and it shows the chaos in this administration.”
Trump has named Army Secretary Mark Esper to serve as acting defense secretary.
Inhofe said he believes Esper will get the nod from Trump to serve in the position permanently.
“At least he’s talking about someone who’s been involved,” Inhofe said of Esper.
“He’s gone through confirmation, he’s done well. There won’t be anything out there that I can think of that would create a problem for him.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called Trump’s decision to push out Shanahan “probably a smart decision” and said he “heard rumors” about the allegation against Shanahan.
Inhofe said the FBI typically investigates a 10-year history on deputy positions and performs a much more in-depth probe for the top posts, including cabinet secretaries.
The domestic violence incident involving Shanahan occurred in 2010. Shanahan was confirmed as deputy defense secretary in July of 2017.
Graham called for improved vetting of nominees.
“We need to do a better job,” Graham said. “If they had the information, they should share it.”
Graham, like other Republicans, said Trump needs to send a nominee soon who can be confirmed permanently as defense secretary.
“I would encourage the president to find someone quickly to send to the Senate.”
Graham said he could vote for Esper, who he added “has a solid world view,” and supports rebuilding the military and a “robust foreign policy.”
Democrats are calling for the Defense Department inspector general to investigate whether Shanahan’s past “was deliberately concealed or mistakenly covered up” when he was confirmed as deputy defense secretary in July 2017.
“The nominee was under an obligation to reveal it himself,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the Armed Services Committee said. “This is potentially a violation of criminal law.”
