Page 4 - General Smith News Today

WASHINGTON — Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who for months has been blocking hundreds of military promotions in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, plans to call a floor vote on the nominee for …

‘The potential as well for an absence in the commandant position just reemphasizes how the Tuberville hold is a desperate threat to our national security,’ Sen Blumenthal says

The episode happened as the service’s No. 2 position has been left unfilled because of a senator’s blockade on promotions of senior military officers.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith, the branch's top officer, was hospitalized Sunday after suffering an apparent heart attack, the service announced.

The Marine Corps lacks a confirmed assistant commandant due to ongoing gridlock in the Senate.

After the top-ranking Marine in the U.S. Army collapsed, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, will allow the second-in-charge to come to a floor vote as soon as Thursday.

According to anonymous sources familiar with the situation, General Smith apparently suffered a heart attack while jogging.


Sen. Tommy Tuberville plans to call a floor vote on the nominee for the Corps’ assistant commandant after Gen. Eric M. Smith suffered a health emergency.

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl is the interim acting commandant following Gen. Eric Smith's medical emergency Sunday evening.

A three-star general has been named acting commandant.