Retired US General suspended over tweet mocking Jill Biden
2 Min Read
The US Army relieves a retired Lieutenant General who serves as a military consultant for reportedly mocking the First Lady on Twitter.
-
US Army's former top spokesperson, Lieutenant General Gary Volesky (Archive)
The US Army's former top spokesperson, Lieutenant General Gary Volesky, was suspended Saturday from his duties as an adviser to active-duty officers following a probe into his controversial response to US President Joe Biden's wife, Jill.
Commenting on the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn the abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade, Jill Biden tweeted on June 24 that "For nearly 50 years, women have had the right to make our own decisions about our bodies. Today, that right was stolen from us."
"Glad to see you finally know what a woman is," Volesky reportedly replied in a tweet that was later deleted.
For nearly 50 years, women have had the right to make our own decisions about our bodies.
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) June 24, 2022
Today, that right was stolen from us.
And while we may be devastated by this injustice, we will not be silent. We will not sit back as the progress we have already won slips away.
On Saturday, a US Army spokesperson said that “pending the outcome of the commander’s inquiry,” the commanding general of the Combined Arms Center, Lt. Gen. Theodore Martin, “has suspended retired Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky from performing duties as a Highly Qualified Expert – Senior Mentor.”
The US Army, however, did not reveal the exact reason for the retired three-star general's suspension. But USA Today reported that the Lieutenant General's statement may be considered a breach of decorum for a retired military officer.
According to The Washington Post, Volesky, 60, "was among the retired military officials or senior retired civilian officials who offer mentorship and training to Army officers, staffers and students" for $92 an hour.
USA Today mentioned that it is unusual for an official that the Pentagon is paying to step intervene in partisan politics, especially since the Department of Defense avoids touching on such topics.
It is noteworthy that Volesky served as commander of the US ground forces in Iraq during the invasion and commanded the I Corps from 2017 to 2020, receiving several awards and decorations, including a Silver Star and a Purple Heart.
