Democrats call on GOP to end senator’s ‘reckless’ military promotions block

Tommy Tuberville’s protest has left the US marine corps without a permanent leader for the first time since before the civil war. Photograph: Mariam Zuhaib/AP

The Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville’s block on senior US military promotions in protest of Pentagon policy on abortion is “reckless and dangerous”, eight Democratic senators told Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader, in a letter published on Monday.

“It falls to you to act now, for the safety and security of our nation,” the Democrats wrote to McConnell, of Kentucky. “We urge you to exercise your leadership and prevail on senator Tuberville to end his reckless hold.”