WAPO: Pentagon restricted commander of D.C. Guard ahead of Capitol riot

[lindysalsagal]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/dc-guard-capitol-riots-william-walker-pentagon/2021/01/26/98879f44-5f69-11eb-ac8f-4ae05557196e_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=691
Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, answers questions at the Pentagon on Jan. 25. (Alex Brandon/AP)

By Paul Sonne Jan. 26, 2021 at 11:37 a.m. EST

The commander of the D.C. National Guard said the Pentagon restricted his authority ahead of the riot at the U.S. Capitol, requiring higher-level sign-off to respond that cost time as the events that day spiraled out of control.

Local commanders typically have the power to take military action on their own to save lives or prevent significant property damage in an urgent situation when there isn’t enough time to obtain approval from headquarters.

But Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, said the Pentagon essentially took that power and other authorities away from him ahead of a pro-Trump protest on Jan. 6. That meant he couldn’t immediately roll out troops when he received a panicked phone call from the Capitol Police chief warning that rioters were about to enter the U.S. Capitol.

Walker and former Army secretary Ryan D. McCarthy are set to brief the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday behind closed doors about the events, the beginning of what is likely to become a robust congressional inquiry into the preparations for a rally that devolved into a riot at the Capitol, leaving five people dead and representing a significant security failure.

HOLY CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS, BATMAN!

[no_hypocrisy]

1. No prob! Subpoena those Pentagon officials who made that call re. the Impeachment.