Wednesday’s events at the U.S. Capitol testify to multiple and very serious security failures. But one specific question must be asked in light of acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller’s statement on providing support to the Capitol Police.
Miller noted that he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley had spoken “separately with the Vice President and with Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Senator Schumer and Representative Hoyer about the situation at the U.S. Capitol. We have fully activated the D.C. National Guard to assist federal and local law enforcement as they work to peacefully address the situation. We are prepared to provide additional support as necessary and appropriate as requested by local authorities. Our people are sworn to defend the constitution and our democratic form of government and they will act accordingly.”
Note the name that is absent here. Why did Miller not speak with the commander in chief, President Trump?
That question needs urgent answering for a simple reason. Because it seems possible, based on the president’s only qualified condemnations of those who unlawfully stormed Congress, that Trump was reluctant to authorize the use of escalated force to restore the rule of law. This is no small issue. What happened on Capitol Hill was a very serious attack on democracy. As president, Trump’s first duty must be to uphold the oath he made on Inauguration Day to “protect, preserve, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Seeing as a rather important element of that Constitution entails protecting the democratic rule of law, Trump has a duty to authorize all necessary support for Capitol security.
That takes us back to Miller’s statement. It seems nonsensical that Miller would not have immediately endeavored to speak to the president if he needed authority to support the Capitol Police. So why didn’t he? Pertaining as it does to the fulfillment of Trump’s duties, we need to know the answer to that question. Perhaps the answer is that Miller didn’t try to speak to Trump for some reason? If that’s the case, we need to know why. But if Miller did attempt to speak to the president and couldn’t, or if Miller spoke to the president but couldn’t get approval for the escalated National Guard deployment, well, Trump is derelict in his duty.
As a side note, it would also appear that Mayor Muriel Bowser bears some responsibility here. A separate Pentagon statement explained that “earlier this week, Mayor Bowser requested approximately 340 D.C. National Guardsmen to assist D.C. police in preparation for possible protests today. That request was approved. Today, the mayor requested the full activation of the D.C. Guard to support local and federal law enforcement as they respond to the situation at the Capitol. That request was approved.”
Question: Why didn’t Bowser request more National Guard forces to be called up earlier in the week? Was it on the advice of her police chief? Or was it her unilateral decision? And why did it take so long for National Guard reinforcements to be authorized, even as Capitol Police faced a growing and increasingly aggressive crowd?
All these questions need urgent answers.
Update: Kash Patel, Miller’s chief of staff, tells the Washington Examiner that “the Acting Secretary and the President have spoken multiple times this week about the request for National Guard personnel in DC. During these conversations the President conveyed to the Acting Secretary that he should take any necessary steps to support civilian law enforcement requests in securing the Capitol and federal buildings.” My note on update: If Miller needed no further guidance on security requirements, why did he talk to Pence, Pelosi, and others? Perhaps only to reassure them that help was on the way. Still, why did it take so long for the National Guard reinforcements to be deployed? Speaking at a press conference later on Wednesday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy explained the delay as partly resulting from his need to get Miller’s authorization for reinforcements. Questions remain.
