The Biden administration’s new head of diversity and inclusion at the Pentagon’s Special Operations Command has been reassigned amid a military investigation of divisive and politically exclusionary social media posts.
Richard Torres-Estrada posted a June 20 photo comparison of former President Donald Trump holding a Bible outside a church to former Nazi Germany dictator Adolf Hitler, a military spokesman told CNN on Monday.
Also, in a February post that was public until Monday, Torres-Estrada posted a Facebook meme suggesting Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was “MISSING” amid the Texas power outages and his ballyhooed travel to Cancun, Mexico.
Torres-Estrada’s hiring was announced Thursday, making his stay in the post short-lived after he started in the role earlier in the month.
Special Operations Command tweeted last week:
“USSOCOM welcomes our new Chief of Diversity & Inclusion, Mr. Richard Torres-Estrada. We look forward to his contribution in enhancing the capabilities and effectiveness of #SOF through diversity of talent, helping us recruit the best of the best. #QuietProfessionals”
Torres-Estrada’s reassignment is pending the investigation of his posts, according to Special Operations Command spokesman Kenneth McGraw to CNN.
This command oversees special operations for the most elite units in the U.S. military, including the Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and Delta Force.
Formerly, Torres-Estrada was an equal opportunity officer for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, according to his Facebook and LinkedIn pages, which listed no military background, CNN reported.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is aware of the posts as Special Operations Commander Gen. Richard Clarke conducts the investigation, Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby told CNN.
“Obviously, we take the need to promote diversity and inclusion seriously here in the department,” Kirby said at a briefing. “The secretary has spoken to that many times, and we certainly want that work to be transparent, to be credible, to be effective, and of course professional. We want everybody to take those duties and responsibilities seriously and professionally, but we’re not going to get ahead of Special Operations Command’s investigation.”
CNN’s requests for comment from Torres-Estrada had not yet been returned, his Facebook page was no longer public as of Monday night.
President Joe Biden vowed to be a leader of unity after the Trump administration, but his administration has been hamstrung by embarrassing political tweets, particularly those aimed at former President Trump and his supporters.
Office of Management and Budget nominee Neera Tanden had to be withdrawn by President Joe Biden after posts attacking Republicans. Also, Colin Kahl confirmation for under secretary of defense for policy, No. 3 at the Pentagon, is under scrutiny for past tweets attacking Republicans.
Source: Newmax
