FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
February 28, 2024
Cotton to Austin: Why Was Airman Who Self-Immolated Allowed to Serve?
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, asking him to provide information of the active-duty U.S. airman who self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. on February 25. Senator Cotton asked Secretary Austin to respond to the “serious questions” by March 7 as to why the airman was allowed to serve when he obviously harbored extreme, anti-American views.
Text of the letter may be found here and below.
February 28, 2024
The Honorable Lloyd Austin
U.S. Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Austin:
I am writing to you regarding an active-duty U.S. airman’s self-immolation outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. on February 25, 2024. You have made it a top priority to address “extremism” amongst our total force, and this act of horrific violence—in support of a terrorist group—raises serious questions about how this individual was allowed to serve on active duty.
Please provide the following information no later than March 7, 2024:
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
__________________
Tom Cotton
United States Senator