Photographer: Ivan Valencia / Bloomberg
Photographer: Ivan Valencia / Bloomberg
All 10 surviving former US defense secretaries this month called for a peaceful transfer of power, warning that any attempt to involve the military in resolving electoral disputes would “put us on dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional territory.”
Three days before Congress meets to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, the group, which served the Democratic and Republican presidents, called for civil war in a message to President Donald Trump to admit defeat, even though they no name mentioned.
Signatories included James Mattis, who stepped down as Trump’s Secretary of Defense in 2018, and Mark Esper, who fired Trump in a tweet in November.
“US elections and the peaceful transfers of power that ensue are hallmarks of our democracy,” the group said in a Washington Post. opinion piece. “The time to question the results is over; the time has come for the formal counting of the votes of the electoral college, as prescribed in the constitution and the statutes. “
While Trump has promoted unsubstantiated allegations of majo vote fraud and urged supporters who plan to meet in Washington on Jan. 6, former defense leaders focused on calls in some circles to involve the military in destroying the results of the presidential meeting of November 3. election. They include Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who claimed last month that Trump has the power to repeat elections in swing states under military surveillance.
“Civil 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,” said the former defense secretary.
They called on Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and his subordinates to work with the Biden transition team.
“They should also refrain from any political action that undermines the election results or impedes the success of the new team,” they said.
The other former defense chiefs supporting the op-ed are Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta, William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld.