Trump insurgents came within seconds of capturing 'nuclear football' on Jan. 6

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

During Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, video footage of events on Jan. 6 revealed just how close Mike Pence came to falling into the hands of the people who were chanting for his execution. Fourteen minutes after the mob of Trump supporters first breached the Capitol, Secret Service agents led Pence from the Senate chamber and down a flight of stairs. He entered that stairwell just seconds ahead of the arrival of insurgents, some of whom were carrying rope or zip ties. Had those insurgents not been delayed through the actions of Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, they could easily have been there to capture Pence and take him to the gallows waiting on the lawn outside.

But in addition to Pence, they might have captured something else that would have been especially problematic. For most of us, our electronic devices—phones, tablets, and laptops—are regularly trusted with our most confidential information. That’s one of the things that helps to make these devices our constant companions and among the most vital objects that we own. However, there is still information that’s considered too valuable, too sensitive, to be trusted to any electronic device, and one prime example was in the hands of a military aide who was with Mike Pence as he fled from the Senate.

That aide was carrying a small satchel, and inside that satchel was a book listing the locations of classified military sites, a description of how to activate and use the Emergency Broadcast System, a “black book” of pre-planned military actions, and a small card that contains the codes necessary to authorize a nuclear strike. That aide was with Pence at the top of the stairs in the video that was shown during the Senate trial.

The Jan. 6 insurgents didn’t just almost get Mike Pence. They almost got the backup copy of the president’s Emergency Satchel. Better know as the “nuclear football.”

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/7/21/2041066/-Trump-insurgents-came-within-seconds-of-capturing-nuclear-football-on-Jan-6

[lagomorph777]

1. They would have blown up the world if they could.

Boy, that would have owned the libs.

[Initech]

14. That is a truly scary thought.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

2. If they got that close to Pence...

the SS would have gunned them down where they stood.**




**assuming they didn't have SS agents working for them.

[Renew Deal]

3. Nobody would have gotten near Pence alive.

It is a fantasy to think that the secret service wouldn't have protected him with everything they had.

[madaboutharry]

7. I agree.

They wouldn’t have gotten to him, though it does seem Pence didn’t trust all of his security detail.

[JHB]

13. It's one thing to be suspicious he might be whisked off to an undisclosed location...

...but any agents who might have been up to something like that would still have gunned down or plowed a car through any MAGA mobbers who got in their way.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

11. And, I'm quite sure that there is a contingency for just such a scenario,

like a self destruct button that the military officer could initiate.

And, as you said, there would be alot of dead bodies before any unauthorized person got to the football.

[madaboutharry]

4. Republicans know the House investigation is going

to reveal a plot involving elected officials and key figures to overthrow the government. The only thing that saved this country was its civilian military.

I have little doubt about this. They will be found out as the traitors that they are.

[Jim__]

5. My expectation is that the aide has specific orders with respect to that satchel.

Those idiots may have been in for a big surprise had they approached him.

[Disaffected]

6. Err, there's gotta be more than just having possession of the codes

to launch a nuclear strike.

And I doubt that capturing Pence would have been that easy - his SS protectors I image would have used lethal force if it had actually come to that.

Inflammatory nonsense IMO...

[Lovie777]

9. As to the briefcase I'm pretty sure that they have a "fail safe" in place . ...

if terrorist, other than secure persons lose procession of it.

SS is there to protect both and a fire fight would have been pursued.

[Disaffected]

10. Yes, one would hope

there is a fail-safe - it would be a pretty crazy situation if not. IIRC a launch request has to go through the Sec Defense at least and, failing that, a backup. I imagine the JCS might also be in the launch authorization sequence.

[sarisataka]

8. This horse has been well beaten

As to why getting possession of the codes would not serve any practical purpose.

It would have been a major embarrassment but no missiles could be launched.

[NightWatcher]

12. They should've shot the invaders the second they breached the line.

I hope they do shoot to kill the next time they try this shit. You cannot allow the Capitol to be sacked.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

15. Good grief!

By the way, I remember Pence being removed by security before anyone else at the Capitol on January 6th. I was watching live coverage on C-SPAN at the time. That was before I even saw the Capitol was breached by anyone, but the removal of Pence made it clear that something ominous was about to happen.