(DC Pundit) – Former CIA Director Michael Hayden has sparked controversy with a jaw-dropping remark on Monday, suggesting that Senator Tommy Tuberville should be exiled from the “human race.” This astonishing statement from the retired US intelligence veteran came as a response to a query posed by a user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), who inquired about Tuberville’s removal from his committee.
In what some have labeled a shocking insinuation, Hayden replied, “How about the human race?” This remark quickly spread across social media, with some interpreting it as a call for Tuberville’s “assassination.” Notably, Mollie Hemingway, the editor in chief of the Federalist, took to Twitter to voice her concerns, stating, “Former CIA Director Michael Hayden calls for the assassination of Sen. Tuberville because the senator is performing desperately needed oversight of the U.S. Military.”
The online backlash intensified as Logan Dobson, vice president of the GOP strategy firm Targeted Victory, tweeted, “Them: The media and the deep state are not out to get Republicans, that’s a conspiracy theory. CNN National Security Analyst And Former Head Of The CIA Michael Hayden: Tommy Tuberville should be assassinated.”
https://twitter.com/LoganDobson/status/1711573492489986522?s=20
Senator Tuberville, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been at the center of a contentious standoff, blocking the swift confirmation of numerous military officers slated for crucial leadership positions. His protest revolves around a Pentagon policy that covers troops’ out-of-state travel for reproductive services, including abortion and in-vitro fertilization.
https://twitter.com/GenMhayden/status/1711554729518460955
This blockade effectively prevents the Senate Armed Services Committee from granting unanimous approvals to nominations, forcing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring some promotions to the full Senate floor for votes. Despite mounting pressure and the recent crisis in the Middle East, Tuberville’s spokesperson confirmed his unwavering commitment to maintaining this stance.
Michael Hayden, a retired Air Force general who previously served as the director of the National Security Agency (NSA) from 1999 to 2006, drew attention earlier for his criticisms of Tuberville’s actions. He called Tuberville an “idiot” in a May 2022 tweet, responding to a video of the senator questioning Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines about the US’s involvement in Ukraine’s efforts against Russia’s invasion. In another tweet, Hayden accused Tuberville of being a racist when a user asked about it.
https://twitter.com/GenMhayden/status/1524067356284182535?s=20
https://twitter.com/GenMhayden/status/1707802811524620575?s=20
Hayden was also among a group of retired military and State Department officials who signed an open letter in August, condemning Tuberville’s “reckless” protest, expressing concern that it jeopardizes military planning, preparedness, and national security. The letter emphasized the global instability and urged Senator Tuberville to end his blockade and show respect for the nation’s service members and their families.
Furthermore, Hayden was one of 51 former intelligence officials who, in an open letter, sought to discredit The Post’s 2022 report on Hunter Biden’s controversial laptop by falsely claiming that the emails were Russian disinformation.
Copyright 2024. DCPundit.com | Featured image credit: US Secretary of Defense
