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Trump's Army secretary nominee Viola just backed out
Washington Examiner ^ | 2/3/17 | Anna Giaritelli

Posted on 02/03/2017 7:35:43 PM PST by markomalley

President Trump's nominee for Army secretary, Vincent Viola, withdrew his name for the position late Friday.

Viola said he backed out because he was not able to navigate Defense Department rules regarding his family businesses. The nominee is the first Trump nominee back out after being named.

"I appreciate the confidence President Trump showed in me," Viola said.

"I offer my continued support for President Trump and his administration, and look forward to redoubling my efforts to support the Army and its veterans as private citizens," he told the Military Times.

Trump nominated Viola to the post in mid-December. Since then, the founder and executive chairman of Virtu Financial and owner of the NHL's Florida Panthers said he had tried to divest, but was unable to do so.

Viola graduated from West Point in 1977 and went on to serve in the 101st Airborne Division. He graduated from New York Law School in 1983. He founded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Viola had been accused last summer of punching a concessions worker at a racehorse auction in upstate New York.

Police reports state an employee at the Sarasota Springs, N.Y., establishment said Viola, a billionaire Wall Street trader, gave him a "swollen bloody lip" on Aug. 8. Viola told law enforcement that the man he punched had pushed his wife, prompting the former Army officer to respond physically. The unidentified victim said he never pushed Viola's wife.

Saratoga Springs Police Chief Greg Veitch said officers "determined that both incidents involved actions that could have been charged as harassment, a violation level offense in New York State." However, charges were never brought on either allegation.

Robert Speer, the acting Army secretary, will continue to perform the duties of the office in the interim. Trump has nominated Heather Wilson as Air Force secretary and Philip Bilden to oversee the Navy, though confirmation hearings have yet to take place.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: army; armysecretary; trump; trump45; trumpdod; usarmy; viola

1 posted on 02/03/2017 7:35:43 PM PST by markomalley
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To: markomalley

If he has conflicting business that would cause a big stink in getting him through it’s best he back out, I’m sure DJT talked with him about it, and it was agreed that it would be best.
Besides DOD rules, you know Trump has strict rules he has about conflicts and his cabinet.


2 posted on 02/03/2017 7:39:45 PM PST by snarkytart
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To: markomalley

Over here, over here! [raises hand]


3 posted on 02/03/2017 7:41:04 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Over here, over here! [raises hand]

See here: https://apply.whitehouse.gov/

4 posted on 02/03/2017 7:42:24 PM PST by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good -- Leo XIII)
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To: markomalley

Threatened, maybe?


5 posted on 02/03/2017 7:52:53 PM PST by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
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To: markomalley

Darn. Thought he would be a good Florida liaison for Trump.


6 posted on 02/03/2017 8:03:13 PM PST by SoFloFreeper (Isaiah 25:8)
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To: markomalley

How about OLLIE NORTH?


7 posted on 02/04/2017 12:45:39 AM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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To: stars & stripes forever
"How about OLLIE NORTH?"

How about LTC Terrence Lakin. That would make the leftists absolutely apoplectic.


8 posted on 02/04/2017 12:51:58 AM PST by Godebert (CRUZ: Born in a foreign land to a foreign father.)
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To: stars & stripes forever; markomalley

No, Ollie is a retired Marine. Give us an Army guy, DJT already made a retired Marine the SecDef.


9 posted on 02/04/2017 9:06:34 AM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Over here, over here! [raises hand]

You really don't want to have to work again do you? And on weekends too?

10 posted on 02/04/2017 9:11:29 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
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To: markomalley

11 posted on 02/04/2017 9:16:47 AM PST by TADSLOS (Reset Underway!)
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To: markomalley

12 posted on 02/04/2017 9:19:11 AM PST by TADSLOS (Reset Underway!)
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To: markomalley

Former Congressman Duncan Hunter.


13 posted on 02/06/2017 6:14:08 PM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: MSF BU
This is garbage forcing some to divest when others are allow to load their businesses with government contracts while they are in Office like the gas station attendant for the U.S.Navy, that wonderful purple heart winner, who was messed up in Vietnam when he forgot to use toilet paper when he wiped.

The hero of the Weather Wars, 'the good'ol, if you don't believe this one,' I got a million of'em Al Gotcha! Gore!!

14 posted on 02/06/2017 7:11:40 PM PST by mississippi red-neck ( When A People and Their Leaders Turn Back on God. He Turns Their Mind Repobate.)
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To: mississippi red-neck

I agree, Viola was a victim of his own success. Duncan Hunter is a great citizen/soldier. The country could do a lot worse.


15 posted on 02/06/2017 7:44:13 PM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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