A series of pardons, post-election protests claiming unproven electoral fraud, and the likely mental illness of a man at the top of the nation lead to a “red warning” in a normally quiet time of year for many: the holidays. But not this year.
“The military leaders of the Pentagon and the Washington area are on alert and unsure of what President Donald Trump might do in his remaining days in office,” Newsweek reported Thursday.
An official who spoke to Newsweek on condition of anonymity said the opening and transition planning was being kept out of sight from the point of view of the White House and Trump loyalists at the Pentagon, fearing it would be closed.
“I’ve been in the military for over 40 years and have never seen the discussions that are going on now, the need for such discussions,” said the retired flag officer who is currently a defense company. He was granted anonymity so that he could speak without fear of reprisals.
“Right now, because of the coronavirus,” said a retired Advocate General, “the president actually has unprecedented emergency powers that could convince him – especially if he listens to some of his supporters – that he has and is above unlimited powers.” Law.”
He continued, “But martial law is the wrong paradigm for thinking about the dangers ahead.”
“The US military has no role in determining the outcome of an American election,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Chief of Staff James McConville said in a joint statement last Friday.
“At this point there is no telling what the president might do next month,” a former Northern Command (NORTHCOM) in command told Newsweek. “While I’m confident that the uniformed military leadership has their heads screwed right, the craziness is unprecedented and the possibilities are endless.”
The retired flag officer also asked for anonymity as he actively advises senior officers and does not have the authority to speak on the file.
Retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, President Trump’s first national security adviser and recently pardoned felon, spoke publicly on the conservative broadcaster Newsmax last week on the subject of martial law and said the president should use the military to seize and restart ballot boxes. the choice in certain states.
“He could take over military capabilities and … basically repeat an election,” Flynn said. “The President has to plan just in case because we cannot allow this election and the integrity of our election to go as it is.”
Flynn’s testimony was condemned by numerous retired officers who called Flynn “a disgrace to his uniform”.
Trump has so far publicly denied the proposal for martial law.
Martial law = fake news. Just knowingly bad reporting!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2020
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