Spicer to Biden: Shove it, demand to quit Navy board is illegal

Claiming President Joe Biden is illegally politicizing U.S. military academies, former Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer told the White House he would not resign as requested from a Navy board before his three-year term is up.

“I have not resigned and will not do so,” he said in his response to last week’s surprise demand to Trump appointees on various boards.

Digging in for a fight with the highly-political Biden White House, Spicer cited congressional law that keeps presidents from politicizing military boards, such as the Naval Academy Board of Visitors.

Spicer, a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, wrote, “Termination of membership on an academy board of visitors would be illegal.”

He also asked the White House to “identify to me any legal authority” that would be OK with his firing.

This comes after last week, Catherine M. Russell, the director of White House personnel, in no uncertain terms demanded former Trump aides — notably Spicer, Kellyanne Conway, and budget director Russ Vought — resign in a day or be fired.

What’s more, White House press secretary Jen Psaki questioned the qualifications and values of Spicer and the former Trump aides, an unusual assault on her predecessors.

Spicer wasn’t hearing that.

In his letter to Russell, he wrote, “After serving 22 years in the Navy, holding several leadership positions spanning five administrations, various awards and decorations and graduating from the U.S. Naval War College, I am well qualified to finish the three-year term I was appointed to in 2019. With respect to values, beyond the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment, I personally believe all members of the board should ensure the academy provides the education and tools to the next generation of officers who will lead the Navy and its sailors. I would hope those values are consistent with President Biden’s.”

In her response to Biden, Conway said, “I’m not resigning … but you should.”