Senator Delays Donahue's Promotion as Army Head

GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin is reportedly blocking the promotion of Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, nominated to lead the U.S. Army in Europe, due to his involvement in the controversial Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021. Donahue, known as the last U.S. service member to leave Kabul, was omitted from a list of nearly 1,000 military promotions approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee, raising concerns over a potential senator's hold on his nomination. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is considering court martialing military officials involved in the withdrawal, amidst ongoing criticisms of the Biden administration's handling of the evacuation. In a separate political development, Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his nomination as Trump's pick for attorney general, citing it as a distraction from the transition's critical work. Gaetz's controversial past and concerns about his confirmation led to his decision, which has been met with relief from some GOP senators. Trump's support for Gaetz's choice to step down highlights the complexities of the current political landscape as the administration prepares to take office.