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All 10 living former Defense Secretaries deliver extraordinary warning to Trump in scathing op-ed denouncing the prospect of military involvement in election dispute as 'dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional'

  All 10 living former Defense Secretaries have delivered an extraordinary warning to President Trump in an op-ed denouncing the possibility...

 All 10 living former Defense Secretaries have delivered an extraordinary warning to President Trump in an op-ed denouncing the possibility of the military becoming involved in the current election dispute. 

The piece was published in The Washington Post on Monday, following calls from some Trump supporters to invoke martial law in a bid to block Joe Biden from becoming the next Commander-in-chief. 

The 10 Defense Secretaries, who are both Republican and Democrat, did not mention Trump's name in the editorial, but clearly intended for the President to heed their message. 


'Our elections have occurred. Recounts and audits have been conducted. Appropriate challenges have been addressed by the courts. Governors have certified the results. And the Electoral College has voted. The time for questioning the results has passed,' the group wrote. 

'Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory,' they warned. 

The 10 living former Defense Secretaries listed as authors of the piece are Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Mark Esper, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, James Mattis, Leon Panetta, William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld. 

Both Mattis and Esper worked under Trump, but clashed with the Commander-in-chief. Mattis resigned in January 2019, while Esper was terminated in November 2020. 

All 10 living former Defense Secretaries have delivered an extraordinary warning to President Trump in an op-ed in which they denounced the possibility of military involvement in the current election dispute. James Mattis was one of the authors
Mark Esper is pictured

All 10 living former Defense Secretaries have delivered an extraordinary warning to President Trump in an op-ed in which they denounced the possibility of military involvement in the current election dispute. They include James Mattis (left) and Mark Esper (right), both of whom worked under Trump 

Dick Cheney
Donald Rumsfeld
Robert Gates
William Cohen

From left: Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates and William Cohen 

Ashton Carter
William Perry
Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel

From left: Ashton Carter, William Perry, Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel 

Elsewhere in the op-ed, the 10 men issued a warning to Trump's acting Defense Secretary, saying that any mobilization of the military would be put members of the armed forces in a legally precarious position, 

'Acting defense secretary Christopher C. Miller and his subordinates — political appointees, officers and civil servants — are each bound by oath, law and precedent to facilitate the entry into office of the incoming administration, and to do so wholeheartedly,' the former Defense Secretaries wrote. 


'They must also refrain from any political actions that undermine the results of the election or hinder the success of the new team.'

The group added: 'Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory. Civilian and military officials who direct or carry out such measures would be accountable, including potentially facing criminal penalties, for the grave consequences of their actions on our republic.' 

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The piece was published in The Washington Post on Monday, following calls from Trump's allies to bring in the military in a bid to block Joe Biden from becoming the next Commander-in-chief

The piece was published in The Washington Post on Monday, following calls from Trump's allies to bring in the military in a bid to block Joe Biden from becoming the next Commander-in-chief 

Without mentioning a specific example, the former Defense Secretaries wrote that transfers of power 'often occur at times of international uncertainty about U.S. national security policy and posture,' adding 'they can be a moment when the nation is vulnerable to actions by adversaries seeking to take advantage of the situation.'

Tensions with Iran represent just such a moment. Sunday marked one year since the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani, the top Iranian general; Iran has vowed to avenge the killing, and U.S. officials said in recent days that they are on heightened alert for potential Iranian attack on U.S. forces or interests in the Middle East.

The op-ed also comes as Trump continues to challenge the legitimacy of the election, citing widespread voter fraud. However, despite legal challenges the President's attorneys have not been able to provide sufficient evidence of the claim. 

That has not stopped 12 Republican Senators from declaring that they plan to object to certifying Joe Biden's win when Electoral College results are tallied in Congress next week.

As Trump grows increasingly desperate, military leaders are reportedly conducting high-level talks about what to do should Trump invoke martial law during his remaining days in office.   

Last week, six retired military members spoke with Newsweek, confirming that the discussions are currently being conducted behind closed doors. 

The officials claim that 'while there is zero chance that uniformed leadership would involve itself in any scheme to create an election-related reversal, they worry that the military could get sucked into a crisis of Trump's making, particularly if he tries to rally private militias and pro-Trump paramilitaries in an effort to disrupt the transition and bring violence to the capital.'

'I've been associated with the military for over 40 years and I've never seen the discussions that are being had right now, the need for such discussions,' one retired flag officer told the publication. 

Trump is pictured last month at the United States Military Academy

Trump is pictured last month at the United States Military Academy

The Newsweek piece ran in the wake of reports that the President conducted a White House meeting to discuss new ways to resist or overturn Biden's victory - with the idea of deploying the military to assist in his fight raised, before being shot down. 

Present at the fractious Oval Office meeting, which was held late last month, was retired General Michael Flynn, 

Flynn recently told a Newsmax television interviewer that Trump could 'take military capabilities and place them in those (battleground) states and basically rerun our election.'

Trump denied reports about the Friday meeting in a tweet shortly after midnight Saturday, saying, 'Martial law = Fake News. Just more knowingly bad reporting!'

Several senior military officers have made clear they would take no part in any effort to overturn the results of an election that has been certified by every state and confirmed by the Electoral College.

'There is no role for the U.S. military in determining the outcome of an American election,' Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Army Chief of Staff James McConville said in a statement. 

As Trump grows increasingly desperate, military leaders are reportedly conducting high-level talks about what to do should Trump invoke martial law during his remaining days in office. The Pentagon is pictured

As Trump grows increasingly desperate, military leaders are reportedly conducting high-level talks about what to do should Trump invoke martial law during his remaining days in office. The Pentagon is pictured

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