Former Pentagon spokesman tied to online DEI purge asked to resign, official says

WASHINGTON – Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot was asked to resign this week pursuing a contentious commencement for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s communications office, a elder defence authoritative told The Associated Press connected Thursday.

Ullyot was 1 of Hegseth’s archetypal communications bureau hires and oversaw immoderate of its astir highly disposable but arguable moves, including a wide edict to the subject services to strip distant online images that were considered a promotion of diversity, equity oregon inclusion.

That directive led to nationalist outcry erstwhile images of national heroes similar Jackie Robinson and others were removed. Ullyot told Politico connected Wednesday helium had travel to the determination to resign. A elder defence authoritative acquainted with the determination said that wasn't the lawsuit and that Hegseth's bureau had requested that Ullyot resign.

Ullyot did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

Ullyot’s departure Wednesday was not tied to the Defense Department's ongoing probe into unauthorized disclosures of information, which truthful acold has led to 3 different elder Pentagon aides being escorted retired of the building.

Colin Carroll, main of unit to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; Darin Selnick, lawman main of unit for Hegseth; and Dan Caldwell, an adjutant to Hegseth, were placed connected permission amid the leak investigation, 2 different U.S. officials said.

It was not instantly wide what leaks led to the departures.

All 3 officials spoke connected the information of anonymity to sermon details that person not been made public.

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