Joint Chiefs Statement

15 hours ago
Top Military Officers Decry Capitol Attack in Joint Statement
By Nancy A. Youssef - Wall Street Journal

U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley in September of 2020.ERIN SCOTT/REUTERS
The top uniformed officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard and Space Force said in a message to the entire U.S. military on Tuesday that last week’s Capitol attack was “a direct assault on the U.S. Congress, the Capitol building, and our constitutional process.”

The unusual message from the Joint Chiefs of Staff represented the first unified military statement about last Wednesday’s assault, in which a violent, pro-Trump mob forcibly entered the Capitol where lawmakers were certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s presidential victory.

“As service members, we must embody the values and ideals of the nation,” the top military officials wrote. “We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values and oath; it is against the law.”

Among those who signed the statement, addressed to all members of the U.S. military, was Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The top officers also explicitly recognized Mr. Biden’s election, saying: “On January 20, 2021, in accordance with the Constitution, confirmed by the states and courts, and certified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be inaugurated and will become our 46th commander-in-chief.”

Separately, a U.S. Army spokeswoman said Tuesday that officials are working with federal authorities to identify anyone who participated in last week’s attack at the Capitol who may have had a connection to the Army.

At least one active-duty soldier and several retired service members are under investigation for possible involvement in the assault, defense officials said, adding that number likely will increase. An active duty service member could face either federal charges or prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The spokeswoman also said the Army and U.S. Secret Service are assessing whether any active duty soldiers or National Guard members slated to be at next week’s inauguration will be required to undergo security screening, in a reminder to troops about political activity.

“There is no place for extremism in the military and we will investigate each report individually and take appropriate action,” the spokeswoman said.

The Defense Department has authorized as many as 15,000 National Guard members to be deployed to D.C. leading up to Wednesday’s inauguration.