The Jan. 6 committee has vowed to look into the Department of Defense’s actions following the Capitol riot in light of revelations about the steps Gen. Mark Milley took to assure the Chinese that former President Donald Trump would not authorize an attack against them.
Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson and Vice Chairwoman Rep. Liz Cheney said in a Thursday statement, “The facts surrounding steps taken at the Pentagon to protect our security both before and after January 6th are a crucial area of focus for the Select Committee.”
AUSTRALIA SAYS FRENCH SUBMARINES WERE INFERIOR TO TECHNOLOGY OFFERED BY US AND UK
Their comments come days after the news of two previously unreported conversations between Milley and his Chinese counterpart in which he assured them there was not an impending attack. The conversations, which were first reported in a new book by journalist Bob Woodward and Washington Post reporter Robert Costa, have led to calls for his firing amid accusations that the calls as reported amounted to treason.
“We expect the Department of Defense to cooperate fully with our probe,” they added. “Looking ahead, we will carefully evaluate all the facts based on first-hand testimony, contemporaneous documents, and other relevant materials. The Select Committee is dedicated to telling the complete story of the unprecedented and extraordinary events of January 6th, including all steps that led to what happened that day, and the specific actions and activities that followed between January 6th and January 20th, 2021.”
Both Milley and a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs described the call as within his duties and responsibilities as the chairman.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Milley, in the aftermath of the Capitol riot, also called a secret meeting at the Pentagon to review the process for military action, including for deploying nuclear weapons, in which he instructed the National Military Command Center not to take orders from anyone unless he was involved, according to the book, a copy of which was obtained by CNN.
The House committee is investigating the Jan. 6 riot, which occurred when a mob of angry Trump supporters stormed the Capitol with the hope of preventing Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory because they believed it was achieved through fraud. The panel requested documents from the Pentagon regarding this time period last month, though the Milley call likely heightens their interest.
