Stopping a coup
Every time it seems that President Donald Trump can’t sink lower, he finds a way to do just that. Most recently, all 10 living US defence secretaries — including two of his own — warned Trump to avoid trying to use the military to overturn his election defeat. Trump has continually refused to accept defeat, let alone agree to peacefully leave office on January 20 as required by the Constitution. The outgoing President is thus advised against efforts to involve the armed forces in resolving election disputes — something that threatens to blot one of world’s most developed democracies and take it 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,” the former defence secretaries stated in an open letter published by The Washington Post.
The Biden transition team has already accused the Trump administration of non-cooperation. Trump officials reportedly refused outright to share some information with the Biden team, despite being legally required to do so. Although senior military officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark Milley, have explicitly said that the US military has no role in determining the election results and that the troops’ loyalty is to the Constitution, not to individuals, powerful Trump appointees have not backed that sentiment. It is also notable that Trump purged several Pentagon officials soon after the election and replaced them with loyal cronies. Trump then reportedly asked his new advisers if he could order troops to re-run elections in states he lost. Some reports also say Trump political appointees have been collecting information on the mechanics of troop movements.
While most watchers remain confident that the military will not side by Trump’s attempted coup, the mere attempt itself would be devastating for US democracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2021.
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