The Defense Department has confirmed it opened an investigation into recently hired Richard Torres-Estrada, the head of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s office of diversity and inclusion. Torres-Estrada previously posted photos comparing former President Trump to Adolf Hitler in June 2020 and was named to the post last week.
The Daily Wire reports:
“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,” USSOCOM posted on Thursday.
The announcement sparked backlash online as old social media posts from Torres-Estrada’s Facebook page began circulating online. One post from June 2020 featured side-by-side photos of former President Donald Trump holding up a Bible outside of St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C., and a doctored image of Adolf Hitler made to look as if he is holding up a Bible.
Torres-Estrada captioned the post, “Here I leave this and slowly retire (to continue working from home)…”
“We are aware of the situation, and the command has initiated an investigation,” USSOCOM spokesman Ken McGraw said. USSOCOM did not immediately return a request for comment from The Daily Wire.
The investigation comes as officials have been increasingly scrutinized over past political posts.
