Riot at the US Capitol January 6, 2021

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Riot at the US Capitol January 6, 2021 Riot at the US Capitol January 6, 2021 Background On January 6, 2021, a joint session of Congress was scheduled to certify the Electoral College votes that were cast by electors on December 14, 2020. The certification of the votes by Congress is required by the United States Constitution to take place on this date approximately two weeks before the newly- elected (or re-elected) president is sworn in. That the results of the 2020 election were hotly contested is a secret to no one. Several rallies protesting the election outcome were planned in Washington D.C. to coincide with the Congressional vote certification. The “Save America” rally scheduled to take place January 6th on the Ellipse (a 52- acre park south of the White House) was one of these. The scheduled speakers included several members of Congress, Rudy Giuliani (a member of President Trump’s legal team), Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and President Donald Trump. The organizers of the rally obtained the required permits from the Department of the Interior, authorizing them to hold a rally on federal land. The rally was planned for weeks in advance, with President Trump announcing on December 18 his intentions to attend Timeline of the attack Attendees of the Save America rally began gathering at the Ellipse when the gates opened at 7:00 AM. No hard figures on numbers of attendees seem to be available, with news outlets reporting “thousands.” Photos of the event appear to bear this out. The keynote speech by President Trump lasted approximately an hour, wrapping up at 1:11 PM. The speech was too long and covered too many topics to summarize here, but President Trump ended by encouraging the crowd to “walk down Pennsylvania Avenue” to the Capitol to “try and give them [the Republican Congress members] the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.” Previously, Rudy Giuliani had mentioned in his speech that it would take a “trial by combat” to settle the 2020 election. When President Trump finished speaking, rally attendees began converging on the U.S. Capitol, joining other groups that were already gathered there. Posts on social media platforms advised demonstrators on the best routes to take to avoid police. Around 2:00 PM, the gathered demonstrators became violent, and the barricades guarded by the Capitol Police were breached minutes later. The police chief of Washington, D.C., says pro-Trump protesters deployed “chemical irritants” on police in order to get access to the Capitol building. The rioters then forced their way into the building, gaining access around 2:15 PM. The entire crowd of thousands did not enter the Capitol, with numerous leaving as soon as the situation began escalating. However, some hundreds did force their way into the building. Most walked into the Capitol on foot after breaking through the barricades, but a few used ropes and ladders and broke in windows to gain access. Congress had convened at 1:00 PM to begin the vote certification process. By 2:00, when the demonstrators were forcing their way past the police barricades, the Senate and the House had divided to their separate chambers to debate some objections to the votes that had already been raised. When the rioters broke into the Capitol, security personnel quickly sealed off both chambers of Congress to prevent any unauthorized entry. Vice President Mike Pence (who was presiding over the Senate) was quickly hurried off and the session was adjourned. House Speaker Nancey Pelosi and Senate President Chuck Grassley (who follow Pence in the presidential line of succession) were also sequestered away. 1 At 2:30, both houses of Congress were ordered to evacuate, and police began directing senators, representatives, staff, and reporters to secure locations within the Capitol complex. Members of the House were advised to put on emergency gas masks to avoid being affected by the tear gas which was being used in the halls outside the House chamber. Details about the “secure locations” to which the Congress members were taken are not plentiful, but it seems that most people were first evacuated to the Capitol Visitor Center, an underground complex that includes several secure rooms with blast doors. Senators and their staff were then taken to the Russell Senate Office Building, which is accessed from the Capitol by an underground tunnel. Members of the House were taken in other directions. Capitol Police then conducted a room-by-room search of the Capitol to find Congress members, staffers, and reporters who had been left behind. The rioters rampaged through the Capitol, breaking into offices and stealing and vandalizing. Rioters forced their way into the Senate chamber, and some were photographed occupying the dais where Vice President Pence had been shortly before. The mob attempted to break into the House chamber as well, but security personnel barricaded the doors and successfully kept them at bay. Rioters entered the offices of various representatives, including that of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House. Art was looted, tables flipped, pictures torn from walls, and glass windows were smashed, leaving the floors littered with glass and other debris. Rioters spent over three hours in the Capitol before the last ones were removed. Local authorities responded quickly when they realized that the Capitol had been mobbed. At 2:31, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a 6:00 PM curfew would go into effect in the city Wednesday evening. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued a curfew for nearby Alexandria and Arlington County. At 3:45, Vice President Pence, Congressional leaders, and Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller agreed to deploy the entire D.C. National Guard contingent of 1,100 as well as accept offers from the governors of Virginia and Maryland to send National Guard members and State Police units from those states. Around 5:00, the New Jersey governor announced that New Jersey State Police were being deployed at the request of D.C. officials, and the New Jersey National Guard was on standby. At 5:40, Capitol officials announced that the Capitol Complex had been cleared of attackers and secured. During the confrontations inside the Capitol, police fatally shot a woman. Three other rioters died of “medical emergencies,” and a police officer died from injuries sustained in the attack. Dozens more rioters and police officers were injured. 2 Demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Capitol While the police and National Guard were clearing the Capitol of rioters, senators and representatives were following events closely and discussing whether to reconvene. At 6:45 PM, four hours after fleeing the Capitol, the decision was reached that Congress would convene again and the votes would be confirmed. At 8:00 PM, both houses resumed debate over the Electoral votes. Vice President Pence reopened the Senate session by condemning the violence “in the strongest possible terms” and informing the rioters, “You did not win. Violence never wins.” After eight hours of further debate and voting, lawmakers confirmed Biden as the President-elect of the United States, just before 4:00 AM on January 7th. Aftermath It took some time for order to be completely restored on the National Mall. Although the Capitol was secured at 5:40, confrontations between protestors and law enforcement continued. Hundreds of protestors violated the D.C. curfew by staying out past 6:00. Mayor Bowser subsequently announced that the 6:00 PM curfew would remain in place for the district for two weeks until the inauguration is past and presidential power has been transferred to the Biden administration. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced on Thursday that a seven-foot fence would be erected around the entire Capitol, which will remain in place for at least 30 days. McCarthy also said that 6,200 members of the National Guard will be deployed to the D.C. area by this weekend, with the D.C. force being supplemented by contingents from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. Law enforcement authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the attack and have enlisted hundreds of investigators to identify and arrest the perpetrators. At least 15 people have been charged in federal court for crimes connected to the attack, with charges including theft of government property and firearms violations. Sixty-eight others were arrested for violating curfew Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin says the charges are just the beginning of the potentially months-long investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Any rioters that entered the Capitol could face several federal charges, including destruction of property, threatening members of Congress, and sedition (the act of opposing government authority by 3 force). Investigators have released photos of dozens of individuals who entered the Capitol and are requesting the public’s help in identifying them. One individual who has been charged with entering a restricted area of the Capitol is a West Virginia state lawmaker. State Delegate Derrick Evans live-streamed himself entering the Capitol with other trespassers on Wednesday. He has since been arrested by the FBI. Legislators from at least seven other states traveled to Washington D.C. to demonstrate on Wednesday, but at least some left when the situation began escalating, and it is not known that any of them joined in the Capitol storming. Police have identified the four protestors that died during the attack on the Capitol. The woman fatally shot by police was an Air Force veteran from San Diego. Ashli Babbit (35) identified herself as a Libertarian and a supporter of the Second Amendment.
Recommended publications
  • Corporate and Foreign Interests Behind White House Push to Transfer U.S
    Corporate and Foreign Interests Behind White House Push to Transfer U.S. Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia Prepared for Chairman Elijah E. Cummings Second Interim Staff Report Committee on Oversight and Reform U.S. House of Representatives July 2019 oversight.house.gov EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On February 19, 2019, the Committee on Oversight and Reform issued an interim staff report prepared for Chairman Elijah E. Cummings after multiple whistleblowers came forward to warn about efforts inside the White House to rush the transfer of U.S. nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. As explained in the first interim staff report, under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, the United States may not transfer nuclear technology to a foreign country without the approval of Congress in order to ensure that the agreement meets nine nonproliferation requirements to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. These agreements, commonly known as “123 Agreements,” are typically negotiated with career experts at the National Security Council (NSC) and the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy. The “Gold Standard” for 123 Agreements is a commitment by the foreign country not to enrich or re-process nuclear fuel and not to engage in activities linked to the risk of nuclear proliferation. During the Obama Administration, Saudi Arabia refused to agree to the Gold Standard. During the Trump Administration, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) went further, proclaiming: “Without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.” There is strong bipartisan opposition to abandoning the “Gold Standard” for Saudi Arabia in any future 123 Agreement.
    [Show full text]
  • [email protected] CDC/ATSDR Attn
    April 14, 2020 VIA EMAIL: [email protected] CDC/ATSDR Attn: FOIA Office, MS-D54 1600 Clifton Road, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30333 Re: Freedom of Information Act Request Dear FOIA Officer: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (“CREW”) makes this request for records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) regulations. First, CREW seeks all communications from January 29, 2020 to the present between the CDC and the following individuals referencing or involving the collection, tracking, reporting, or release of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“novel coronavirus”) information pertaining to race, ethnicity, primary language, gender, disability status or socioeconomic status: (1) President Trump; (2) White House employees, including anyone with an “*.eop.gov” email domain; (3) attorneys or representatives acting on behalf of President Trump; and/or (4) members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, specifically: Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States; Dr. Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator; Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General; Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State; Robert Blair, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff; Dr. Ben Carson, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Ken Cuccinelli, Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, Director of the U.S. Office of Science and Technology; Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Joe Grogan, Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council; Stephen Hahn, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • 2011 2011 2011Annual Report Annual Report July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011
    Council on Foreign Relations Council Foreign on Council on Foreign Relations 58 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 tel 212.434.9400 fax 212.434.9800 1777 F Street, NW Annual Report Washington, DC 20006 Ann tel 202.509.8400 ual Report fax 202.509.8490 www.cfr.org 2011 2011 2011Annual Report Annual Report July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011 Council on Foreign Relations 58 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 tel 212.434.9400 fax 212.434.9800 1777 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 tel 202.509.8400 fax 202.509.8490 www.cfr.org [email protected] Officers and Directors OFFICErs DIr ectors Carla A. Hills Irina A. Faskianos Term Expiring 2012 Term Expiring 2013 Term Expiring 2014 Co-Chairman Vice President, National Program and Outreach Fouad Ajami Alan S. Blinder Madeleine K. Albright Robert E. Rubin Sylvia Mathews Burwell J. Tomilson Hill David G. Bradley Co-Chairman Suzanne E. Helm Kenneth M. Duberstein Alberto Ibargüen Donna J. Hrinak Richard E. Salomon Vice President, Development Stephen Friedman Shirley Ann Jackson Henry R. Kravis Vice Chairman Jan Mowder Hughes Carla A. Hills Joseph S. Nye Jr. James W. Owens Richard N. Haass Vice President, Human resources Jami Miscik George Rupp Frederick W. Smith President and Administration Robert E. Rubin Richard E. Salomon Fareed Zakaria Kenneth Castiglia L. Camille Massey Vice President, Membership, Term Expiring 2015 Term Expiring 2016 Richard N. Haass Chief Financial and Administrative ex officio Officer and Treasurer Corporate, and International John P. Abizaid Ann M. Fudge David Kellogg Lisa Shields Peter Ackerman Thomas H.
    [Show full text]
  • The Enablers Barbara Kellerman Index More Information © in T
    Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-83832-0 — The Enablers Barbara Kellerman Index More Information Index Access Hollywood tape, 89 Atlas, Scott, 237–238 Adams, Jerome, 136, 154, 239–240 authoritarianism Adelson, Sheldon, 47 of base supporters of Trump, 24–25 administration of Donald Trump democracy and, 266–267 Alex Azar, 186–188 soft dictatorship and, 270–271 demographics, 57 of Trump, 24–25, 266–267 dysfunctionality of, 57–58 Azar, Alex, 186–188 early signs of crowd size lies, 55 Bacow, Lawrence, 146–147 inaugural address, 54–55 bad leadership/followership categories family involvement, 56 ineffective, 15 Hope Hicks, 207–208 unethical, 15 H. R. McMaster, 60–61 Bannon, Steve, 73 James Mattis, 61–62 Barr, William, 181–186 John Kelly, 61 Barrack, Tom, 72–73 Kellyanne Conway, 207–208 base supporters of Trump loyalty tests, 64–67 COVID-19 and, 32 Mark Meadows, 196–199 deference to authoritarianism, 24–25 media savviness importance, 57 defined, 22 Mick Mulvaney, 195–196 demographics, 22–23, 33 Mike Pence, 171–176 devotion of, 19–21, 31–33 Mike Pompeo, 176–179 and economic disenfranchisement, military appointees, 56 24 Peter Navarro, 199–201 ethnicity of, 22–23 Rex Tillerson, 59–60 polling of, 265–266 Robert O’Brien, 201–202 relationship to truth, 33–34 Sonny Perdue, 271 types of, 21–22 Steven Mnuchin, 179–181 Bethrothed, The,94 subordinate subservience, 67–70 birtherism, 160 turnover, 61–64 Birx, Deborah, 121, 145, 197–198, wealth of, 56 242–246 William Barr, 181–186 Black Death, 96–98 advisors. See senior advisors, Trump Black Lives Matter,
    [Show full text]
  • Materials Insupport of H. Res. 24, Impeaching Donald John
    MATERIALS IN SUPPORT OF H. RES. 24, IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS REPORT BY THE MAJORITY STAFF OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY Prepared for Chairman Jerrold Nadler U.S. UNITED STATES JANUARY 2021 Majority Staff Amy Rutkin, Chief of Staff Perry Apelbaum , Staff Director and Chief Counsel John Doty, Senior Advisor AaronHiller, Deputy ChiefCounsel David Greengrass , Senior Counsel John Williams, Parliamentarian and Senior Counsel ShadawnReddick-Smith, CommunicationsDirector Moh Sharma, Directorof MemberServices and Outreach & Policy Advisor Arya Hariharan, Deputy ChiefOversightCounsel James Park, ChiefCounselofConstitutionSubcommittee Sarah Istel, Counsel Matthew Morgan, Counsel Madeline Strasser, Chief Clerk William S. Emmons, Legislative Aide Priyanka Mara, Legislative Aide Anthony Valdez, Legislative Aide Jessica Presley , Director of Digital Strategy Kayla Hamedi, Deputy Press Secretary MATERIALS IN SUPPORT OF H. RES. 24 , IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP , PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS HOUSEJUDICIARYCOMMITTEE MAJORITYSTAFFREPORT JANUARY 12, 2021 INTRODUCTION 2 FactualBackground 4 A. Conduct Leading Up to January 6, 2021 4 B. The January 6, 2021 “Save America Rally ” 8 C. The Attack on the Capitol 11 D. President Trump’s Response to the Insurrection... 15 E. The Events of January 6th Were a Result of and Incitedby the President's Course of Conduct..... 18 II. The Need for the House to Impeach President Trump 21 A. Standards for Impeachment . 21 B. Application of Impeachment Standards to President Trump's Conduct ...... 22 1. The Article ofImpeachmentCharges an ImpeachableOffense 22 2. President Trump Committed the Charged Impeachable Offense.. 26 3. President Trump's Conduct Harmed Core National Interests ..
    [Show full text]
  • Scoop: FULL TEXT of Dissent Cable I Obtained, Signed by Over 100 Officials: 1/Many 1. on January 6, 2021, the United States Witn
    Thread Search Twitter Home Josh Rogin @joshrogin Explore Scoop: FULL TEXT of @StateDept Dissent Cable I obtained, signed by over 100 officials: 1/many Notifications 1. On January 6, 2021, the United States witnessed an Messages unprecedented effort by American citizens to violently subvert the democratic will of the American people... Bookmarks 12:53 PM · Jan 8, 2021 · Twitter Web App Lists 2.4K Retweets 338 Quote Tweets 5.2K Likes Profile Josh Rogin @joshrogin · Jan 8 Replying to @joshrogin More After months of promoting baseless claims of voter fraud, which were rejected by the judiciary in dozens of cases, President Trump encouraged supporters, some armed, to storm the U.S. Capitol while Congress was Tweet certifying the results of a free and fair presidential election... 18 314 1.3K Josh Rogin @joshrogin · Jan 8 His incitement led to a violent riot in the U.S. Capitol, five deaths, untold injuries, destruction and vandalism of government property, and incalculable damage to our democratic system and our image abroad... 8 274 1.3K Josh Rogin @joshrogin · Jan 8 He played an integral role in breaking the 220-year streak of peaceful transfer of power between political parties during U.S. elections. (End of point 1). Continuing.... Relevant people 5 242 1.3K Josh Rogin Follow Josh Rogin @joshrogin · Jan 8 @joshrogin STATE DEPARTMENT DISSENT CABLE POINT 2: Columnist - Washington Post, Political Analyst - CNN, Author - CHAOS The Department of State should explicitly denounce President Trump's role UNDER HEAVEN, to be released March in this violent attack on the U.S. government.
    [Show full text]
  • BOOK REVIEW ROUNDTABLE: Surveying H.R. Mcmaster's
    BOOK REVIEW ROUNDTABLE: Surveying H.R. McMaster’s “Battlegrounds” March 8, 2021 Table of Contents 1. “Introduction: Defending the Free World in the Post-Trump Era,” by Jim Golby 2. “Competitive, Competent, Conservative: Internationalism After Trump,” by Michael Singh 3. “Battlegrounds: The Fight for American Foreign Policy,” by Emma Ashford 4. “The Power of Values: The Free World’s Strategic Advantage in Great- Power Competition,” by Daniel Twining 2 Texas National Security Review 1. Introduction: Defending the Free World in the Post-Trump Era By Jim Golby H.R. McMaster is one of the most distinguished and rightly heralded soldier-scholars of his generation. With his appointment to the role of assistant to the president for national security affairs, he was also thrust into the role of statesman in the midst of one of the most controversial administrations in recent history. McMaster’s appointment also raised some civil-military concerns. The three-star general was only the third active-duty military officer to fill this highly political role and one of a handful of appointees dubbed the “adults in the room,” who many Americans hoped would serve as a check on President Donald Trump’s worst tendencies. Against this backdrop, it is understandable that McMaster didn’t want to write a tell-all memoir about his White House tenure that focused primarily on his experiences and interactions with Trump. Already the author of an acclaimed civil-military history of the Vietnam War, McMaster instead staked out a more ambitious task: I wanted to write a book that might help transcend the vitriol of partisan political discourse and help readers understand better the most significant challenges to security, freedom, and prosperity.
    [Show full text]
  • Trump Administration Transition
    RESOURCES Trump AdmiNistratioN TraNsitioN December 20, 2016 Overview White House Chief of Staff: ReiNce Preibus (RepublicaN NatioNal Committee (RNC)) Chief Strategist aNd SeNior CouNselor: Steve BaNNoN (Breitbart News) CouNselor to the PresideNt: KellyaNNe CoNway (The PolliNg CompaNy) Deputy Chief of Staff to the White House: Katie Walsh (RNC) Deputy Chief of Staff for OperatioNs: Joe HagiN (CommaNd CoNsultiNg) Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, INtergoverNmeNtal Affairs aNd ImplemeNtatioN: Rick DearborN (Office of SeNator SessioNs) AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Director of Strategic CommuNicatioNs: Hope Hicks AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Press Secretary: SeaN Spicer (RNC) AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Director of CommuNicatioNs: JasoN Miller has vacated AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Director of Social Media: DaN ScaviNo (Trump OrgaNizatioN) AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd White House CouNsel: DoN McGahN (JoNes Day) AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Director of Legislative Affairs: Marc Short (Office of Gov. PeNce) AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Director of PresideNtial PersoNNel: JohN DeStefaNo (former aide to Speaker BoehNer) AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Director of CommuNicatioNs for the Office of Public LiaisoN: Omarosa MaNigault (Trump for America, Celebrity AppreNtice) AssistaNt to the PresideNt aNd Director of Trade aNd INdustrial Policy: Dr. Peter Navarro (UC-IrviNe) Note: Dr. Navarro will lead the Newly-formed NatioNal Trade CouNcil, which is iNteNded to: advise the presideNt oN iNNovative strategies iN trade NegotiatioNs; coordiNate with other ageNcies to assess US maNufacturiNg capabilities aNd the defeNse iNdustrial base; help match uNemployed AmericaN workers with New opportuNities iN the skilled maNufacturiNg sector; aNd lead the Buy America, Hire America program Director of the NatioNal EcoNomic CouNcil: Gary CohN (GoldmaN Sachs) AssistaNt to the PresideNt for HomelaNd Security aNd CouNterterrorism: Thomas Bossert (Deputy HomelaNd Security Adviser to George W.
    [Show full text]
  • February 8, 2020 Mr. Ronald A. Klain Chief of Staff the White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear M
    February 8, 2020 Mr. Ronald A. Klain Chief of Staff The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. Klain: Since its establishment by the House of Representatives in April 2020, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis has been investigating the federal government’s response to the pandemic. These investigations have shown that the previous Administration’s prioritization of politics over science and abdication of federal leadership allowed the virus to spread more rapidly,1 leading to devastating consequences—including more than 462,000 Americans dead, 26 million infected, and tens of millions of jobs lost. The Select Subcommittee is continuing these critical investigations in the 117th Congress in order to understand what went wrong over the last year and determine what corrective steps are necessary to control the virus and save American lives. I applaud President Biden and Vice President Harris for prioritizing the nation’s coronavirus response by taking immediate actions to implement a national plan to combat the virus. The Biden-Harris Administration’s approach follows the recommendations that frontline workers, public health experts, medical professionals, and community leaders have shared with the Select Subcommittee. This approach marks an urgently needed departure from the Trump Administration, which refused to acknowledge the danger posed by the virus, warn the American people of the threat, advise on appropriate precautions, and mobilize a coordinated national response. The previous Administration also refused to cooperate with the Select Subcommittee’s inquiries, with the White House and other agencies blocking documents and witnesses related to the politicization of public health information, testing and supply shortages, vaccine development and distribution, and other critical aspects of the nation’s virus response.
    [Show full text]
  • Lieutenant Colonel YEVGENY S. VINDMAN, Judge
    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL In the Matter of Lieutenant Colonel YEVGENYS.VINDMAN, Whistleblower Reprisal Complaint Judge Advocate, U.S.Army, Complainant. August 18, 2020 Table of Contents Table of Authorities........................................................................................................................iii Glossary .........................................................................................................................................iii InvolvedFederal Officials/Witnesses............................................................................................iv Introduction......................................................................................................................................1 Related Proceedings.........................................................................................................................2 Jurisdiction and Timeliness..............................................................................................................2 Elements and Standard of Proof ......................................................................................................3 The Complainant..............................................................................................................................3 Factsof the Case ..............................................................................................................................5 A. Protected Disclosures............................................................................................................5
    [Show full text]
  • Changes in the US National Security Council in the Trump Administration
    Changes in the US National Security Sun Chenghao Council in the Trump Administration Sun Chenghao Changes in the US National Security Council in the Trump Administration Sun Chenghao* Abstract: The structure of the National Security Council (NSC) under Donald Trump has been tweaked only slightly on the basis of the previous administration’s “three tiers of committees” model, and without any breakthrough in reform. However, the NSC also faces a series of new changes and features, including instability caused by changes in the President’s entourage, and dysfunction induced by the decreased number of formal meetings. These changes may be attributed principally to the impact of Trump’s governing style, management style and informal decision-making process. The NSC’s role in the decision-making system varies according to the frequent changes in National Security Advisor. In the 70 plus year history of the NSC, it is evident that its development direction is determined by structural changes in the international pattern, US national security challenges and the transfer of power within the decision-making system. How the President positions and utilizes the NSC ultimately determines the structure and efficiency of the mechanism. Keywords: Donald Trump, National Security Council, National Security Advisor, mechanism evaluation ess than three years into Trump’s presidency, the position of National LSecurity Advisor (also known as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs) has changed hands three times. The fourth National Security Advisor, Robert O’Brien, took the baton in September 2019. Frequent changes in the National Security Advisor and other important staff in the NSC and inconsistency in diplomatic decisions of the Trump administration reflect the chaos and disorder of the NSC mechanism.
    [Show full text]
  • Fall 2010 Newsletter
    Fall 2010 Newsletter Delegates Convene in Seattle for Discussions, Debates and...Doughnuts?! The eleventh annual US-Japan Leadership Program kicked off on Saturday, July 17, 2010 with a delicious welcome dinner at Wild Ginger restaurant in Seattle. Delegates wasted no time with formalities, per George Packard’s instructions, and by the time dessert arrived everyone was deep in conversa- tions, which even melted the ice cream. The week continued on in this fashion, with every single ses- sion ending before everyone had gotten a chance to give their opin- ion. Mornings began with a sweet treat from 2009, 2010 Delegate Kenneth Cukier, who saw fit to fuel discussions with a daily box of doughnuts from Top Pot, a lo- cal Seattle favorite. Needless to say, not only knowledge, but pounds were gained by all in at- tendance. See inside the Newsletter for more thoughts on the Seattle 2010 Conference as well as news and updates from your fellow USJLPers. Also, be sure to check the back cover, where you will find dates for the Japan 2011 conference, which will be here in no time! Above: Scott M. Johnson Fellow Dan Tani (03, 04, top), and 2010 Delegates (clockwise from right) Kazuo Tase, Ganesh Mochida and Lolita Jackson on a quest for the Packard Cup Left: The first time a pastry has ever graced the cover of the USJLP Newsletter, thanks to the efforts of 2009, 2010 Delegate Kenneth Cukier 1 Seattle 2010 - In Review A Thought Provoking Week By Spencer Abbot The 2010 convocation of the U.S.-Japan Leadership program found the USJLP Delegates in Seattle during a week of spectacular weather that belied the Emerald City’s rainy repute.
    [Show full text]