Time to Censure Begich

Honorable Barbara Boxer
Chair/Senate Select Committee on Ethics

Honorable Johnny Isakson
Vice Chair/Senate Select Committee on Ethics

Dear Senate Select Committee on Ethics Chair & Vice Chair

It is with this official correspondence entered on April 23^rd, this year, that I request the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to seriously consider an internal ethics violation investigation upon U.S. Senator Mark Begich(Alaska) with respect to what can only be contrived as dereliction of duty and disorderly behavior becoming a United States Senator. This investigation request is founded on Mr. Begich's abuse of office wherein he is holding the United States Air Force hostage with respect to promotions deserving members this branch of the military. On April 20^th, Mr. Begich's action this matter were made public in the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer as follows: 

Frustrated by a lack of answers about the proposed move of an Eielson Air Force base squadron, Sen. Mark Begich has stalled the promotion of an Air Force lieutenant general until he gets more information. The Alaska Democrat notified Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Senate leaders of the move on Thursday. He’s asked that the Senate Armed Services Committee halt the nomination process for Lt. Gen. Herbert J. Carlisle, who is being considered for promotion to four-star general and as Commander of Pacific Air Forces. The Air Force in February announced a plan to relocate Eielson’s F-16 fighter plane squadron to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside Anchorage. The move, part of a proposed realignment at 60 military installations around the U.S., would transfer roughly half of the 3,100 military and civilian jobs at Eielson. The plan was greeted skeptically by Alaska’s congressional delegation, who questioned the strategic and economic implications. The Air Force projects the move will save $32 million over five years, but hasn’t provided data showing how they arrived at those figures. Begich said he’s made numerous requests for information justifying the proposed F-16 move, but has received almost nothing in return from the Department of Defense. He hopes stalling Carlisle’s nomination is a way to get the Pentagon’s attention. “I’ve honestly kind of had it,” he said. “I decided enough was enough.” Begich said he knows and respects Carlisle and called him to explain his plans to halt the nomination. He said the move has nothing to do with his feelings about Carlisle, who once served as a commander at Elemendorf. “I think he understood our concerns,” Begich said. Any senator can place a hold on a nominee, which halts the process until the hold is lifted. Begich, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said he’ll also place committee holds on any subsequent nominees for military leadership posts until he gets answers from the Department of Defense. Begich hasn’t placed a hold on a nominee during his tenure in the senate, and acknowledged such a move is often controversial. But he said it may be the only way for the Department of Defense to take notice. Begich said he was contacted almost immediately by the Pentagon after requesting the hold, although no answers were provided.

To deny a deserving member of the military a promotion for reasons not related to Mr. Begich's challenge the entity's non-transparency its decision to close the Eielson AFB, this is not what members in good standing the Congress should be involved upon, as it is a dereliction of duty, entrapment, and grounds for expulsion and or censure. There exists many other ways and means for Mr. Begich to get answers his questions, and to hold up a promotion a deserving member of the military is not one of the options. What if the Air Force brass could have upheld Mr. Begich's term on the Senate Armed Services Committee? How would he feel? This is serious, as when the troops came home from Vietnam, they were met with rejection and it caused a disconnect in this country that required many years to cool off. That has been mended somewhat, so to see things appearing that could send the same message, it is behavior that is not what Congress is all about. Please, have Mr. Begich resend his rage like disorderly behavior preventing a honorable man his promotion and please take the time to investigate this matter for possible expulsion and or censure, as this action should not go without repercussions.

Respectfully Submitted,

John NoDough/Democrat