Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz laid into Senator Josh Hawley for “punishing” American service members and US allies by blocking President Joe Biden’s nominee for the Pentagon’s top civilian logistics post, suggesting the Missouri Republican had no right to do so because of his support for rioters who attacked the Capitol on 6 January 2021.
Mr Schatz, a member of the Senate’s defence appropriations subcommittee, spoke on the upper chamber’s floor on Thursday in support of Christopher Lowman, Mr Biden’s pick to serve as Assistant Defence Secretary for Sustainment.
He said Mr Lowman is needed in his post because of the importance of logistical support to the Biden administration’s efforts to aid Ukraine’s defence against Russia.