Washington – The Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking officers in each branch of the armed forces, sent a notable memo to all members of the armed forces on Tuesday, reminding them of their duty to defend the Constitution and reaffirming that the president elected Joe Biden will open on January 20.
“The American people have relied on the United States Armed Forces to protect them and protect our Constitution for almost 250 years. As we have done throughout our history, the US military will obey the legal orders of civilian leadership, support civil authorities to protect lives and property, ensure public safety in accordance with the law and remain fully committed to protecting and defending the United States Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, “said the generals and the admiral in his memo.
The memo denounced the attacks on the Capitol on January 6, during which supporters of President Trump stormed the building in a violent attack that resulted in the deaths of five people.
“We witnessed actions within the Capitol building that were inconsistent with the rule of law. The rights of freedom of expression and assembly do not give anyone the right to resort to violence, sedition and insurrection, ”said the chiefs. “As members of the service, we must embody the nation’s values and ideals. We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to interrupt the constitutional process is not just against our traditions, values and oath; it is against the law.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as the president’s chief military advisers and, in general, remains apolitical. Although the memo does not make a political statement, it is notable that the service chiefs felt that they needed to reaffirm the duty of the military before taking office.
“On January 20, 2021, according to the Constitution, confirmed by the states and courts, and ratified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be sworn in and become our 46th Commander in Chief,” continued the memo.
The message was signed by General Mark Milley, president of the Joint Chiefs; General John Hyten, the vice president; General James McConville, army chief of staff; General David Berger, the commander of the Marine Corps; Admiral Michael Gilday, head of naval operations; General Charles Brown, Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff; General John Raymond, head of space operations; and General Daniel Hokanson, head of the National Guard Department.
President Trump refused to grant the election until last week and urged Republican members of Congress to try to overturn the election. The Capitol riots on January 6 took place while Congress registered Electoral College ballots that certified Mr. Biden as the winner.
The threats of violence continued by supporters of the president in the days before the inauguration. At least 10,000 National Guard soldiers will be present in the country’s capital to provide security for the event after the attack.