Defense Secretary Mark Esper delivered a strong condemnation Wednesday of the “murder” of George Floyd by Minnesota police officers while attempting to distance the Pentagon from politics and President Trump’s call to use the military to quell nationwide protests.
“The killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota policeman was a horrible crime,” Esper said from the Pentagon podium. “The officers on the scene that day should be held accountable for his murder. It is a tragedy that we have seen repeat itself too many times.”
Esper also distanced himself from Trump by saying he did not support using federal troops to quell protesters.
“I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act,” he said. “The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire situations. We are not in one of those situations now.”
Esper admitted that he regretted describing the use of National Guard troops for “dominating the battlespace” in a leaked call Monday with the president and governors.
“In retrospect, I would use different wording,” he said, describing the military lexicon. “It’s not a phrase focused on people, and certainly not our fellow Americans.”
Esper took a much more conciliatory tone in his brief remarks than the language he used on the call with governors.
“My hope is that instead of the violence in the streets, we will see peaceful demonstrations in the streets that honor George Floyd, that press for accountability for his murder, that move us to reflect about racism in America,” he said.
Using the military to support governors and law enforcement “is not something we seek to do, but it is our duty.”
“At times, however, the United States Military is asked, in support of governors and law enforcement, to help maintain law and order so that other Americans can exercise their rights, free from violence against themselves or their property,” he said, taking pain to distance the Department of Defense from politics and claims that the military opposed peaceful protests.
Addressing questions about his walk through Lafayette Park to St. John’s Episcopal Church with the president and others, Esper denied knowing about the police action to clear the park ahead of time and denied that teargas and rubber bullets were used.
“I do everything I can to stay apolitical and stay out of situations that may appear political. Sometimes I’m successful doing that, and sometimes I am not as successful,” he said. “This was not a military action. The National Guard was there in support of law enforcement.”
