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THREAD: Broad strokes of a coup orchestrated by Trump?
These moments must be investigated at the highest level. We don’t know all the details, but this timeline shows an opportunity for Trump to orchestrate a stand down, coordinate w/ Proud Boys, & incite a seditious mob.
These moments must be investigated at the highest level. We don’t know all the details, but this timeline shows an opportunity for Trump to orchestrate a stand down, coordinate w/ Proud Boys, & incite a seditious mob.
1. 11/9: Trump fires Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, replaces him with acting Sec of Def Christopher Miller.
2. 11/11: Trump appoints other top officials at the Pentagon, and a general counsel at the NSA who is objected to by director of NSA. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/trump-pentagon-intelligence-iran.html
2. 11/11: Trump appoints other top officials at the Pentagon, and a general counsel at the NSA who is objected to by director of NSA. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/trump-pentagon-intelligence-iran.html
3. 11/12: Chair of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley speech: “We are unique among militaries. We do not take an oath to a king or a queen, a tyrant or a dictator. We do not take an oath to an individual.”
A shot across the bow at Trump? In response to what?
A shot across the bow at Trump? In response to what?
4. 12/10: Trump issues an executive order changing the line of succession at the Department of Defense, making it more vague and moving up a controversial pick for Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-providing-order-succession-within-department-defense/
5. 12/12: Enrique Tarrio, head of the Proud Boys, posts on Parler that he’s received a last-minute invite to an undisclosed location, and he posts pictures of the White House. The White House denies a meeting took place, says he took a tour. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-protests-proud-boys-idUSKBN28M0V2
6. 12/14: Bill Barr resigns (eff 12/23). He’s replaced by Deputy AG Jeffrey Rosen, who previously moved from Deputy Sec of Transportation, which seems very odd (no law enforcement experience). Rosen was likely in the proper chain of command for a Natl Guard response on 1/6.
7. 12/19: Trump tweets for what I believe was the first time about the rally/protest on 1/6, calling it a “big protest” and saying, “Be there, will be wild!” He tweets about it again before 1/6.
Numerous allies hype the event over the coming weeks.
Numerous allies hype the event over the coming weeks.
8. 1/2: Capitol Police tell the Pentagon they do not need National Guard assistance for the joint session on 1/6.
This despite outcry among those who cover chatter among far-right elements on social media & tips coming in to law enforcement about the threat.
This despite outcry among those who cover chatter among far-right elements on social media & tips coming in to law enforcement about the threat.
9. 1/5: According to the Wash Post, Chief of the Capitol Police Steven Sund, now resigned, lied to Dem members of Congress about having the Natl Guard involved & on call if needed. Sund had declined Pentagon offers of assistance using the NG. (For Capitol, DC mayor not involved.)
10. 1/6: During the insurrection, frantic calls were made from top lawmakers (Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell, etc) to top officials who could help, including Acting AG Jeffrey Rosen. These calls did not result in the immediate deployment of needed help. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-capitol-siege/2021/01/09/e3ad3274-5283-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html
11. 1/6: According to the Wash Post,a senior McConnell adviser reached a former law firm colleague who had been at DOJ as Barr’s Chief of Staff, Will Levi. He reached FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, who dispatched the needed help.
They had to go outside the chain of command.
They had to go outside the chain of command.
12. 1/6: We also know that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan had issues getting authorization from the Pentagon to deploy his National Guard to assist. Hogan detailed this in a press conference. https://twitter.com/jemillerwbal/status/1347244115889704961
This all raises urgent questions about how this happened. Actions could be explained by malfeasance, incompetence, or chaos.
But we know lies were told & Trump initiated turnover at the highest levels of depts that had instances of either gross incompetence or sedition on 1/6.
But we know lies were told & Trump initiated turnover at the highest levels of depts that had instances of either gross incompetence or sedition on 1/6.
We have also had no briefing from any federal authorities in four days since the insurrection. That’s absolutely absurd and raises additional questions.
Here’s an @chrislhayes thread on that.
https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/1348378234979835906
/end
Here’s an @chrislhayes thread on that.
https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/1348378234979835906
/end
