The Pentagon’s former prime spokesman introduced his resignation Wednesday after being sidelined final month for his position within the removing of a Division of Protection web site celebrating MLB trailblazer Jackie Robinson.
John Ullyot, who had been operating the Pentagon’s press store on an performing foundation, instructed Politico that his resolution to depart the DoD got here after a gathering with Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth did not lead to a job provide to his liking.
“I made clear to Secretary [Pete] Hegseth earlier than the inauguration that I used to be not thinking about being quantity two to anybody in public affairs,” Ullyot instructed the outlet, noting that from the outset, he solely supplied to help the Pentagon for 2 months on an performing foundation.
“Final month, as that point approached, the Secretary and I talked and couldn’t come to an settlement on one other good match for me at DOD,” he added. “So I knowledgeable him right this moment that I will likely be leaving on the finish of this week.”
Ullyot indicated that he’ll proceed to be a staunch supporter of Hegseth.
Ullyot had been relegated to a “particular initiatives” position on the Pentagon following the uproar over the removing of a web based article centered on Robinson’s army background, the Washington Put up reported final month.
Robinson, a member of baseball’s Corridor of Fame, broke Main League Baseball’s coloration barrier in 1947, changing into the primary black participant to play within the trendy period when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Ullyot initially defended the removing of the Robinson article, releasing a press release on March 19 declaring that range, fairness and inclusion “is lifeless on the Protection Division,” in response to ESPN.
About an hour later, the general public affairs official launched an up to date assertion claiming: “Everybody on the Protection Division loves Jackie Robinson, in addition to the Navajo Code Talkers, the Tuskegee airmen, the Marines at Iwo Jima and so many others — we salute them for his or her sturdy and in lots of instances heroic service to our nation, full cease.”
“Within the uncommon instances that content material is eliminated – both intentionally or by mistake – that’s out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct the elements and so they right the content material so it acknowledges our heroes for his or her devoted service alongside their fellow People, interval,” Ullyot added.
The Robinson story was restored on the DoD web site shortly after.
Ullyot was subsequently changed by Sean Parnell as the highest Pentagon spokesman.
His resignation comes the identical week as three prime Pentagon officers have been placed on go away amid a probe into leaks on the Division of Protection.
