Trump’s nominee for Army secretary drops out

source

11:25 p.m.
An administration official says President Donald Trump’s nominee for Army secretary, Vincent Viola, has withdrawn his name from consideration.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official isn’t authorized to speak publicly.
The Military Times reported Friday that Viola withdrew because he is unable to separate himself from his business ties.

(a better and longer article is here)
He is a former West Point graduate (so he was qualified to be Secretary of the Army) and owns the Florida Panthers team and Virtu Financial. Apparently the Department of Defense has very strict rules on what kind of business ties you can maintain.

The Military Times (the first source) said that his plan to turn his business over to family members did not meet their test of disbursement. Rather than lose his business, he withdrew his name from consideration.

a reply to: Byrd

He changed his mind? That's terrible..not.

Viola was actually one of the few very good choices made for a cabinet position.

Here's a snippet from the Military Times article

Viola is a 1977 West Point graduate who rose to the rank of major in the Army Reserve. The 60-year-old businessman is a former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and was serving in that role during the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

He helped found the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, a privately funded research wing of the school focused on “counterterrorism policy and strategy” and “ways to confront the dynamic threat environment” facing America today.

He is also known for his charitable work in the military community. I respect his decision to step down, but it's a shame. He really was a good choice.

a reply to: Byrd

Who's gonna replace him? I hope it's not some incompetent fool like Bannon who recently called for war against China.

a reply to: carewemust
Yea... we certainly don't need anyone with THAT kind of integrity in government. He clearly wouldn't fit in with the cesspool in there now.

a reply to: starwarsisreal

Mattis is supposed to be coming up with the recommendation for SecArmy so I sincerely doubt it'll be anybody remotely like Bannon.

originally posted by: starwarsisreal

Who's gonna replace him? I hope it's not some incompetent fool like Bannon who recently called for war against China.

Can you quote/source that in context please?

a reply to: The GUT

Well look at this thread:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Seeems unfair he couldn't turn over his businesses to his family but the president can

a reply to: starwarsisreal

well look at this from the OP's source in the thread.

Those are the views – nine months ago at least – of one of the most powerful men in Donald Trump’s administration, Steve Bannon, the former head of far-right news website Breitbart who is now chief strategist at the White House.Text

views are not the same as calling for war, you do that know that they are just opinions, and that was at least nine months ago.

originally posted by: violet
Seeems unfair he couldn't turn over his businesses to his family but the president can

Not everyones family wants to put their lives and careers on hold to run Dad's businesses, or are even able too.
It's a personal choice by the family.

a reply to: violet

Donald Jr. and Eric were already vice presidents in the Trump organization. They were running the Trump organization when Donald was campaigning day in day out for 1.5 years.

originally posted by: jtma508
a reply to: carewemust
Yea... we certainly don't need anyone with THAT kind of integrity in government. He clearly wouldn't fit in with the cesspool in there now.

Changing your mind for good reasons is not a bad thing. You do it, I do it, we all do it. There will be adequate 2nd choices.

I don't think Mike Pence was Donald Trump's FIRST choice for V.P., but it turned out for the better. He's a stellar leader in his own right.

a reply to: carewemust
Let's be sure we understand the situation. He WANTED to take the position but there was no way he could divest himself from his business dealings to the Army's satisfaction. And he decided he didn't want to lose his businesses. Putting them in the control of his kids was not sufficiently 'divested' as far as the Army was concerned. He would have been fine if he was President... apparently. But he didn't just 'change his mind'. The Army has more rigorous conflict-of-interest policies than the frigging Presidency. Imagine that.

a reply to: jtma508

The military in general has a lot more rigorous "everything" than most civilian positions.

Ain't any PT test for being President, but I'm pretty sure it's more stressful than being a supply clerk.

There really should be a better way to address conflict of interest situations that don't require people to make a choice between their hard earned commercial successes and public service.

Obviously we dont want people to abuse positions of power for financial gain, but I also don't think we want to consequently exclude an entire pool of people whose very experience could be useful in the political world.

originally posted by: violet
Seeems unfair he couldn't turn over his businesses to his family but the president can

He's not high enough on the food chain.

originally posted by: carewemust

originally posted by: jtma508
a reply to: carewemust
Yea... we certainly don't need anyone with THAT kind of integrity in government. He clearly wouldn't fit in with the cesspool in there now.

Changing your mind for good reasons is not a bad thing. You do it, I do it, we all do it. There will be adequate 2nd choices.

I don't think Mike Pence was Donald Trump's FIRST choice for V.P., but it turned out for the better. He's a stellar leader in his own right.

As a resident of Indiana I can tell you Pence isnt a good choice. He spent a good amount time undoing the good Daniels did for the state's image as a business friendly state. Lost us a ton of credibility around the nation with his religious freedom bill. Slow help for the opioid crisis led to an outbreak of HIV as well as cuts to Title 9 clinics that offered testing and counseling at low cost or free to people in the region. All but destroying the office of the state school superintendent because she was an elected Democrat. And on and on....

a reply to: Byrd

Steve Bannon can have the job, he'll do fine.

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: Byrd

He changed his mind? That's terrible..not.

And what is your problem with him?