No military role in elections, top U.S. general reassures Congress and voters
U.S. Army General Mark Milley is the top U.S. general, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On Friday, he told lawmakers he did not foresee America's military forces playing any role in the election process, or resolving any possible disputed outcome for the November presidential election. Trump has previously hinted that he would engage military forces to be present at polling places on voting day, and Milley is effectively rebuking Donald's statement.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley's comments are largely a reiteration of the military's apolitical position but come amid questions about what would happen if the election results were disputed.
President Donald Trump has made unsubstantiated allegations that voting will be rigged and has refused to say whether he would accept official election results if he lost.
"In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military," Milley told Democratic Congresswomen Elissa Slotkin and Mikie Sherrill in a written response to questions obtained by Reuters.
"I foresee no role for the U.S. armed forces in this process... We will not turn our backs on the Constitution of the United States."
Earlier this month the Pentagon said the constitution provided no role for the military "as arbiter of political or election dispute."
More at Reuters.
Just stop and think about how alarming it is that in the year 2020... in America, the Chairman of Joint Chiefs has to assure Congress there is no role for the US military in the upcoming presidential election. https://t.co/ZYeCr36eOf
- Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) August 28, 2020