Nearly the entire nation has become quickly exhausted with Donald Trump’s seemingly endless ploys to steal the 2020 presidential election from its rightful winner, President-Elect Joe Biden, through various lawsuits, recounts, and now even the prospect of military involvement at the suggestion of his rapid supporters.
Over the past weeks, Congresspeople, citizens, and former government officials have spoken out against this atrocious behavior that’s being displayed by the outgoing president. And now, all 10 living former defense secretaries have also weighed in on Donald Trump’s election debacle in a downright scathing op-ed for the Washington Post.
In the piece, the former officials, both Republicans and Democrats, didn’t quite call Trump out by name, but they didn’t have to when they addressed the calls to invoke martial law in connection to Donald’s election scheme, in an effort to block Joe Biden from becoming the President of the United States.
Involved in the piece was Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Mark Esper, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, James Mattis, Leon Panetta, William Perry, and Donald Rumsfeld.
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Mattis and Esper were both a part of the Trump administration at one point, but both ultimately clashed with the President, with Mattis resigning in January of 2019 and Esper being terminated in November of 2020.
“‘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 penned in the fiery op-ed. “Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory.”
Later on in the piece, the former officials issued a serious warning to Trump’s acting Defense Secretary, writing, “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. 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 goes on to add, “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.”
It’s clear that people are quickly becoming truly concerned regarding the lengths Donald Trump may be willing to go to to stay in power. To say that the prospect is scary would be an understatement, but I’m holding strong in my faith for our democracy — and I know we will prevail.
You can read more here.
Featured image via Flickr/Gage Skidmore, under Creative Commons license 2.0
