Jan. 4 memo from Acting DefSec to ArmySec requiring his personal authorization for Nat'l Guard to

[highplainsdem]

use riot control agents & other tactics for the Jan. 6 "March for Trump"


Tweet from Luke Broadwater, who covers Congress for the NYT, minutes ago:

Link to tweet

Here’s the Jan. 4 memo from former acting Defense Secretary requiring “personal authorization” for DC National Guard to employ riot control agents & other tactics at Jan. 6 “March for Trump.” This same day Capitol police knew of a “strong potential” for violence against Congress.

[exboyfil]

1. Did they really think this was going to work?

I see lots of sitting and answering questions in Miller's future.

[Phoenix61]

4. Beat me to it.

Hope they grill him like a burger on the 4th of July.

[Kid Berwyn]

9. He needs to enter the Federal Witness Protection Program.

Pronto.

[lagomorph777]

35. If by that, you mean "lock him in solitary and waterboard him 'til he implicates Trump"

Then I agree fully.

[Kid Berwyn]

62. Tortured to breaking is still less than he deserves.

What I meant, though, was if he’s not protected, the little turd likely is on an “accident” list somewhere. Car crash, plane crash, anvil dropped from an upper floor window, a stray bullet from a policeman... Dead men tell no tales.

[Thomas Hurt]

2. Next step, when and how did the Pig tell him to so this...

[lark]

3. Pisses me off that this will be aired after the impeachment & Miller will finger drumpf.

Why oh why couldn't we have waited until after the commission was complete to transmit the charges so we'd have the names of all the co-conspirators, proof of their planned sedition and insurrection planning & they could be removed prior to the hearing. This was not a good strategy, sadly, IMO.

[LeftInTX]

14. What? Darn......

[HariSeldon]

29. All the more reason a long trial is in our interest

Lindsey Graham warns that bringing in evidence and testimony will make the trial take "weeks if not months." That should scare him and his Republican allies more than us, because the longer it runs, the more evidence the DOJ will turn up. And so long as the House managers are presenting their case, it's giving the Republican party a metaphorical black eye day after day after day. They should be offering anything, including convicting Trump on impeachment, to make this trial go away quickly.

[Demsrule86]

58. No, if we spend weeks on this, we will lose the house.

[lark]

65. 100% agree.

If they want to go full on seditionists, well, let's give that plenty of air time with lots and lots of video and witness testimony. Their brand will take an enormous beating, which is the Miss Congeniality prize here since it seems unlikely they will "remove" him.

Very recently, some are saying he can be censured and barred from holding office without removing him from office first. if so, I certainy hope that is tried as well. Since the filibuster will be in effect thanks to Sienema and Mancin, that is probably the best we can do.

[KPN]

42. Huh? Why can't Miller just be called as a witness?

Why can’t this memo be used as evidence — of intentional negligence if nothing else?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

61. Lark, could you please explain a bit? What commission?

What names? ( To be released too late)?

[lark]

64. Gen. Honre was put in charge of getting to the bottom of this by Speaker Pelosi.

I thought I heard someone refer to this as a Commission with him in charge. Maybe I used the wrong word?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

84. Yes, Pelosi did appoint him to mostly investigate

how to improve Cap police so J 6 wouldn't happen again.

However HE is on record as thinking the whole thing was very fishy and they might be complicit.

Do not see any deadline on when he was to finish his "security review."

Hope he gets to the bottom of that piece before impeachment trial!!

[lark]

86. That would be so awesome.

Not holding my breath, but can't wait until all this comes out.

[moonscape]

73. It wouldn't matter. Nothing matters to them. With

every new thing we think surely it must pr would, but they are in too deep,and it doesn’t. Best to get it over with and let Biden be Biden and hopefully Garland be Garland.

[Maraya1969]

79. They can call Miller at the impeachment trial right?

And maybe we don't know everything "they" know.

[lark]

80. A full trial showing how drumpf planned this sedition would be glorious.

I'm afraid they will mainly show what happened that day which is totally insufficient for this actual plot to overturn our government. I heard that on MSNBC yesterday from one of the impeachment managers. Hope I heard wrong or they were deliberately not showing their cards.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

83. Narrowing the focus to just January 6 is an ineffective strategy

IMHO. It didn't work with Ukraine.
Everyone saw what happened on 1-6. If the goal is to sway public opinion - you've got to show what people don't know.

On the other hand, if the goal is to get this travesty in the history books, make it short and succinct and move on.

[MagickMuffin]

5. Witness #1 Christopher Miller

Why did you refuse to supply the adequate equipment necessary to secure the US Capitol?

Why did you decide that the DCCP didn't need protection?

[KS Toronado]

26. Yes, Why no adequate equipment like helmets & body armor???????

[EndlessWire]

60. Isn't that stunning? n/t

[lagomorph777]

37. Yup!

[cbdo2007]

6. Each branch of Govt should be able to call in the NG as they see fit for their safety.

[BusyBeingBest]

7. Welp, time to haul everyone involved in for questioning.

And here's a story about Tainted-Pork Boebert demanding to know WHY the DC guard was being used at all (even for traffic control):
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-was-national-guard-called-trump-protests-not-others-boebert-says-1559453

It seems that a very newly sworn-in freshman congressperson was VERY CONCERNED AND INVOLVED about this matter--of course, she doesn't know anything about anything, so who in the Republican caucus put her on this task? They didn't want the Guard putting down the 1776 plan, it's clear.

[Kid Berwyn]

8. BUSTED!

Traitors.

[EndlessWire]

10. Wow

If this is real, it's pretty damning. Tied their hands perfectly. I think that Pence called them to come, and that is why they finally showed up.

In particular, I recall that neighboring states had their guys on the line ready to take action, but they were not allowed. It says right there in the memo that no outside guard could be used.

Trump et al are SCUM. The Republican Party will never recover any credibility. This is why the impeachment trial is so important, even if the scum Repubs won't vote to convict him.

And, all conviction means is preventing the Orange Turd from ever holding office. None of the other legal problems he has will go away (although I personally think that he may simply pay a fine and walk off into the sunset.)

[FakeNoose]

30. I thought it was the Maryland NG that finally came in that day

Am I right? I remember that Governor Larry Hogan tried repeatedly to get permission to send the MD National Guard, it was on the news that day. Nobody knew what the holdup was, but apparently the holdup was this stupid memo that got sent out beforehand. Also (I believe) Virginia wanted to send their National Guard too. To be honest I didn't even know that Washington DC even had a National Guard; they're just a city after all.

This needs to be looked into. THOROUGHLY!

[lagomorph777]

38. Yes, I saw Hogan talking about that.

[EndlessWire]

59. Well

The day before the news had talked about having the Guard there for only traffic control. I don't know which Guard it was. One of the problems subsequently talked about was the fact that they deliberately had them unarmed. I remember thinking, well, that's a bad idea, especially since it was widely recognized that protestors planned to show up armed.

They stated as an excuse that it took them something like 90 minutes to get them to where they could provision them before actually deploying them. It was an amazingly long time that, IMO, was/is unacceptable. Also, there was some mention of having them only in private vehicles, which was a problem, since they had to deploy in military vehicles.

I guess it was Maryland who was ready to go but couldn't because they didn't have permission to cross over. Regardless of whichever Guard it was, they saved our Capitol from being occupied, and probably saved some Legislative ass. My G-d, we were lucky.

[FakeNoose]

69. That's for sure!

The later group that came to the rescue around 4 p.m. or so, I'm pretty sure it was MD guards and they did have riot gear and whatnot. The earlier ones, DC police, and Capitol police were not allowed weapons and practically no protective gear. The memo in the OP explains that this was all deliberate, they were intentionally left unable to respond.

[0rganism]

11. well, how about that? an actual official "stand down" order

i do seem to recall Sec. Clinton answering questions for many hours for something similar... but this time we have the actual signed order with a signature.

i hope Sec. Miller enjoys a comparable opportunity to clarify his position before the appropriate congressional committees

[RVN VET71]

40. Ain't nuthin' gonna happen

This Miller guy is either a traitor (which I have to think bears consideration) or stupid as bug (which I also think bears consideration). That much is clear from this memo. But will he be called to testify? I doubt it. And if he were called to testify, would he suffer even a wrist slapping penalty for it? No, he won’t. The GOP mob will prevent the Dems from exercising justice here and anywhere else one of the GOP’s treasonous pustules is called to account. And the Dems, true to their history, will make strong statements and let inquiries end there, in the interests of unity. (And the GOP will attack whatever the Dems say as furthering the divisions in this country which were all started when Obama wore that tan suit. -- and the Dems will let the matter rest.)

Personally, in my fantasy, I see the Miller’s of the former administration tried by military tribunal, handcuffed and marched before a firing squad, given a last cigaret and asked whether he’d prefer a blindfold.

But as Kenan Thompson, as Quincy Maddox (see SNL: https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/inside-the-beltway/4039065) noted, regarding Trump’s indiscretions, general foulness, misdemeanors, and high crimes: Ain’t nuthin gonna happen. And Trump’s absurd immunity from consequences will also shield his cronies -- like Chris Miller -- who acted criminally in his defense.

[aggiesal]

44. Biden should commission a Presidential Crimes Commission similar to the Benghazi Commission ...

Throw about $10M to $20M to properly investigate every nook and crany about how & why this happened.

Whoever gets caught in the net, too bad!

[Grasswire2]

54. What do we Dems have to do to get our leaders to give up the oppressive idea of UNITY?

We're going to lose the republic for just that relic, used as a cudgel against democratic governance time after time.

[LeftInTX]

12. Whoa!! K&R!!

Good grief look at the horrible signature...is he a 10 year old?

[RussellCattle]

20. That's what I thought too. If it turns out that he had a stroke or has his "good" arm in...

.....sling then I'll apologize. But for now I'm betting that he's a functional illiterate member of the donor class.

[OAITW r.2.0]

13. Look like he went out of his way to make sure that the Insurrection was able to breech the Capital.

He doesn't release this memo without Trump's approval. Sure seems like he ought to be charged. All of the idiots who will face federal charges would never have been remotely successful without the efforts of Miller/Trump to make it happen.

[lagomorph777]

39. He should be immediately arrested.

[spanone]

15. All part of the insurrection plan

A conspiracy.

[FraDon]

77. Flashback to previous conspiracies ...

Here's two, add your own favorites:

[1] that dumb-struck Secret Service agent ordered to stand-down and move away from JFK et.al.'s limousine, as it entered the killing zone; I can still see him looking back at the follow car, turning both palms up - as to say WTF!

[2] the missing interceptor jets on 9/11; so many stand down orders are necessary to pull off ops at this scale.

[Botany]

16. "The DCNG is not authorized the following: To employ any riot control agents."

This was a planned coup. End of story. I don't want to hear any crap from the GOP about no evidence.

[malaise]

17. This is HUGE

Well planned from top to bottom - lock them up.

[BootinUp]

18. Holy surrender Batman! Nt

[2naSalit]

19. ...

[BobTheSubgenius]

21. I think Mr. Miller needs a strong talking-to.

Or maybe something more lasting. A long and significant encounter with the justice system, perhaps.

[TryLogic]

24. "Strong talking to"? That's funny. How about strong steel bars.

[TomSlick]

22. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to imagine an innocent explanation for such a stand-down order.

The only explanation I can find is that the order was intended to ensure the insurrection was not countered by the National Guard.

[ancianita]

23. House Managers MUST produce this at the Impeachment Trial. It's big enough to help get conviction.

It can certainly split the vote between Trumpculters and those who want a Republican Party back.

[MerryBlooms]

25. One of the darkest documents I've ever read. I'm almost in tears.

[gab13by13]

27. Democrats need to call him as a witness,

a hostile witness. Dems also need to make it know now that there will be an investigation. Fuck, do we have enough honest prosecutors who can investigate all of this. One prosecutor isn't enough.

[Sogo]

28. Wow. Look at that signature....

I'm sure a lot can be read into it.....I know I have my impressions, but since I'm not a pro at it, I'll reserve comment. But just, WOW!

[CaptainTruth]

31. Looks like they didn't want Trump to have control of armed troops.

Note how Trump was left out of the chain of command, even though:

"... the Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard is subordinate solely to the President of the United States."

Why does the letter describe a different chain of command that leaves out Trump?

Remember how Trump used troops to gas protesters so he could get a photo-op holding a bible?

Imagine what he might do if he could call out the DC Guard, armed, because he was determined to overthrow an election.

I think they wanted to make sure that didn't happen, so they took "Trump's troops" away from him.

Their failure was in not having a backup plan in place to provide support for Capitol police.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

36. I looked at ExecOrder 11485 of 1969, and it gives power to SecDef and to delegate. BUT

But as to your post title premise, it could mean one of

A) They were afraid tRump would mess up.

or

B) tRump wanted plausible deniability and didn't want his fingerprints on the machinations behind the coup attempt.

[aggiesal]

45. B B B B B B B. n/t

[Bernardo de La Paz]

32. A bit of a smoking gun, to use a troublesome metaphor. But very coup-like. . . . nt

[pecosbob]

53. It does appear so

[lagomorph777]

33. Arrest Miller immediately.

Squeeze him until he implicates everybody in Turd's inner circle.

[Historic NY]

34. Another reason for District of Columbia statehood...

A governor in charge of the National Guard could call them up.

[aggiesal]

46. Each Branch should have the authority to be able to call them, for any reason ...

Why just the pResident?
We have 3 co-equal branches of government.

pResident for the Executive
Speaker for the Legislative
Chief Justice for the Judicial

[malaise]

67. No equal branch of government should be dependent on another branch for security

Thar is madness

[aggiesal]

68. I don't know if you're agreeing with me, but I think that's what a wrote ...

Each Branch should have the authority to be able to call them (DCNG), for any reason ...

I listed the head of each branch with the Speaker 3rd in line for the Presidency.

Just to make it clear, I'm agreeing with you!

[malaise]

71. Totally

[LeftInTX]

41. Why isn't this all over the news??

[aggiesal]

43. I have no proof, but I believe the White House wrote this memo ...

then had Christopher Miller sign it.

There is no way that Miller had all these conditions, this had to come from the White House to maximize
the probability of success.

They tied everyone's hands behind their back and said, let the rioters succeed!

[BadgerMom]

47. Vanity Fair published a story featuring Miller and Patel.

Did anyone else read it? The journalist was given complete access to them and some of their peers in early January, pre-Biden inauguration. As I read it I thought it was 100% damage control. I hope there’s no firewall. Here’s the link.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/embedding-with-pentagon-leadership-in-trumps-chaotic-last-week

[DeminPennswoods]

48. Didn't Miller just testify under oath that

there was nothing like this policy in effect on Jan 6th?

[NoMoreRepugs]

49. This "trial" is going to be one of the top popcorn events of our lifetimes.

[TxVietVet]

50. Jan 6 was a coordinated domestic terrorist attack.

Some parties relate to the attack want to ignore that fact.

IT IS WHAT IT IS:
A PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACK.

[Botany]

51. Trump's own words from Dec. 2020

NY Times: Trump's own words from Dec. 2020
"Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"

*************

And his campaign paid for the riot too.

Former President Donald Trump's re-election campaign paid more than $2.7 million to several individuals and firms who helped to organize the Washington rally that preceded the violent storming of the Capitol on January 6, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The payments indicate an ongoing financial relationship between the rally's organizers and Trump's political campaign. Financial disclosures show that the campaign made payments up until November 23, the most recent date covered by Federal Election Commission (FEC) fillings. The rally was announced in December.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-rally-organizers-received-millions-from-re-election-campaign-before-capitol-riot/ar-BB1d0Ch8?amp;page=5&ocid=uxbndlbing

[BusyBeingBest]

52. According to PBS Newshour from the night before the riot,

the Bureau of Prisons supposedly had about a hundred security personnel (little green men with no insignias at BLM protests) at the Justice Dept. HQ to provide assistance if called upon, not sure if they were ever called to assist, or what their authorization process was. The Dept. of Homeland Security also said that same evening that unlike the BLM protests, they had not been tasked to provide CBP officers for increased security. I wonder if a whistleblower could shed light on those orders?

[Grasswire2]

55. yeah, those little green men were at the Lafayette Square fiasco.

We blamed Barr for that, then.

[Crunchy Frog]

56. Lock him up.

[Grasswire2]

57. when was Miller appointed "acting" and what was his prior job?

Let's get all the details into this excellent thread.

[Hugin]

63. Any amateur DU handwriting analysts want to chip in on Miller's signature?

I certainly have my thoughts about what that childish scrawl implies.

[Grasswire2]

66. do tell nt

[catrose]

74. It's been a long while since I've done handwriting analysis, but my first thought on that

Signature was OMFG.

[ecstatic]

70. I'm really behind on news, but this better be on every network right now

I figured trump and his stooges conspired to gut the security at the Capitol on January 6.

Now we see the written evidence.

Time to clean house and make some arrests.

trump can defend himself from impeachment from behind bars!

[LudwigPastorius]

72. A Stand Down order...

Let's get Merrick Garland confirmed so he can order the DOJ to begin investigating and indicting these seditious traitors.

[orangecrush]

75. Smoking gun

[BSdetect]

76. Slam dunk conspiracy. To be removed and charged. Surely

[UpInArms]

78. I wonder what Miller's Loyalty Oath sounded like

From his wiki page

"Trump Ousts Defense Chief Esper Who Balked at Loyalty Demand". Bloomberg.com. November 9, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
^ Jump up to: a b "Trump plans to nominate Special Forces veteran to head counterterrorism center amid uncertainty about its future". Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
^ Cloud, David S. (November 9, 2020). "Esper's firing raises concerns about Trump's plans for the Pentagon in final weeks". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
^ Schmitt, Eric (November 28, 2020). "Ahead of Expected Cuts in Troops, Pentagon Chief Makes a Visit to Somalia". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
^ Jump up to: a b c Kaplan, Thomas (December 29, 2020). "Biden Admonishes Trump Administration Over 'Obstruction'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_C._Miller

[woodsprite]

81. Wonder if that's and electronic signature.

Do we have any other images of his signature on other docs?

[Nitram]

82. If they were going to exert total control then they had the responsibility to be ready to very

rapidly respond to a crisis. Someone's head should roll.

[radius777]

85. This was an orchestrated coup attempt and we need a thorough

impeachment trial that pulls back the lens and looks at all of the events surrounding the 1-6 attack - not just the day itself.

It doesn't matter how long it takes or if Repubs vote to impeach or not. This is our chance to lay the facts on the table and stand up for democracy ... we may not have many other chances should the Seditious Right continue to gain power in this country.