Photographer: Ivan Valencia / Bloomberg
Photographer: Ivan Valencia / Bloomberg
All ten living former U.S. Secretary of Defense this month called for a peaceful transition of power and warned that any attempt to involve the military in resolving election disputes “would take us to dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional territory.”
Three days before Congress convenes to ratify President Joe Biden’s election, the group, which has served Democratic and Republican presidents, called for civil war in a message to President Donald Trump to concede defeat. it was not called him.
Signatories included James Mattis, who resigned as Trump’s defense secretary in 2018, and Mark Esper, who fired Trump in a tweet in November.
“US elections and the peaceful transfer of power are the hallmarks of our democracy,” the group told the Washington Post. opinion piece. “The time for questioning the results has passed; the time has come for the formal counting of the electoral college votes, as prescribed in the Constitution and the statute. ”
While Trump has advanced unsubstantiated allegations of mayo vote fraud and targeted supporters seeking to rally in Washington on January 6, former defense leaders have focused on calls in some circles to involve the military in overthrowing the November 3 presidential election to cast. election. These include Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who claimed last month that Trump has the power to hold elections in repeat states under military surveillance.
“Civil and military officials directing or executing such measures will be responsible for the serious consequences of their actions towards our republic, including criminal penalties,” the former defense secretaries said.
They call on Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and his subordinates to work with the Biden transition team.
“They must also refrain from political action that undermines the outcome of the election or impedes the success of the new team,” they said.
The other former defense chiefs who support the opinion are Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta, William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld.