Aerial view of the Pentagon building photographed Sept. 24, 2017.
Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images
WASHINGTON – While President Donald Trump is doing his best to stir up claims of stolen elections in the last days of his administration, ten surviving Defense secretaries warned Sunday that the U.S. military should play no role in determining the outcome of an American election.
“Each of us has sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. We have not sworn it to any person or party,” write Defense Secretaries Mark Esper, James Mattis, Ash Carter , Chuck Hagel, Leon. Panetta, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Robert Gates, William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld in an opinion piece published Sunday in The Washington Post.
“Attempts to involve US forces in electoral dispute resolution would put us on dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional territory,” the former Defense secretaries wrote.
“Civilian and military officials directing or implementing such measures would be responsible, including possible criminal sanctions, for the dire consequences of their actions on our republic,” they added.
Former Defense Secretaries, who have led collective leadership of the US armed forces for nearly 50 years, argued that “the time to question the results” of the US presidential election is over.
“Our elections have taken place. Recounts and audits have been conducted. The courts have addressed appropriate challenges. Governors have certified the results. And the electoral college has voted. The time to question the results is over; the time for the formal count.” The votes of the electoral college, as dictated by the constitution and statutes, have arrived, ” wrote the former defense secretaries, including two who served under Trump.
US President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of Defense James Mattis (L) watches a meeting with senior military leaders in the White House cabinet room on Oct. 5, 2017.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
The secretaries called on Trump’s acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, as well as politicians and officials to “refrain from any political action that would undermine the election results or hinder the new team’s success.”
“We call on them in the strongest terms to do what so many generations of Americans have done before them. This latest action is in keeping with the highest traditions and professionalism of the US armed forces and the history of democratic transition in our great country,” they wrote. they.
Trump, despite a slew of failed legal challenges, has not conceded the election to Democrat Joe Biden, which will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. Instead, Trump has touted false claims about faked elections and pressured members. of his own party to conspire to undo Biden’s victory and lash out when they oppose his plans.
Last weekend, Trump’s ambitions came to light in an extraordinarily leaked phone conversation with the Republican Secretary of State of Georgia.
Speaking on the phone with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the president said he wanted to find “11,780 votes” that would nullify Biden’s victory in Georgia, according to audio obtained by NBC News.
Raffensperger resisted pressure from Trump to change Georgia’s election results, even as the president issued veiled threats about possible criminal charges if he was denied.
At least 12 Republican senators have called on Congress to delay certification of Biden’s victory at a joint session Wednesday. Vice President Mike Pence, who will chair the seat, has welcomed the senators’ trick, which has no chance of success as Democrats control the House and several Republicans oppose the movement.
Republican sens. Mitt Romney from Utah, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania, among others, have strongly opposed attempts to undo Biden’s victory.
Pro-Trump protests are scheduled for Wednesday in the country’s capital as Congress meets to certify Biden as the new president and Kamala Harris as vice president. Trump said he will attend the protests.