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In rare joint message, top US military leaders condemn Capitol riot

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Idrees Ali, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/01/07/capitol_1.jpg"/><figcaption>Police officers stand guard as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021.<em> Leah Millis, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>WASHINGTON — The US military&#x27;s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the uniformed leaders of the military branches, on Tuesday put out a rare message to service members saying the violent riots last week were an assault on America&#x27;s constitutional process and against the law.</p><p>The joint message broke nearly a week of silence by the military leaders after the<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/07/21/pro-trump-demonstrators-storm-us-capitol"> assault on the Capitol</a> by supporters of President Donald Trump sent lawmakers into hiding and left five people dead.</p><p>While a number of Trump&#x27;s cabinet members including acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller condemned the storming, the top US general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, was silent until now.</p><p><strong> RELATED STORIES</strong>: </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/01/08/21/after-capitol-violence-trump-faces-calls-for-removal-and-staff-exodus">After Capitol violence, Trump faces calls for removal and staff exodus</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/07/21/4-deaths-52-arrests-made-after-trump-supporters-storm-us-capitol">4 deaths, 52 arrests made after Trump supporters storm US Capitol</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/07/21/2-top-white-house-officials-resign-after-capitol-violence-more-on-the-way-sources">2 top White House officials resign after Capitol violence, more on the way - sources</a></li></ul><p>&quot;The violent riot in Washington DC on January 6, 2021 was a direct assault on the US Congress, the Capitol building, and our Constitutional process,&quot; the seven generals and one admiral said in an internal memo to troops, adding that the military remained committed to protecting and defending the Constitution.</p><p>&quot;The rights of freedom of speech and assembly do not give anyone the right to resort to violence, sedition and insurrection,&quot; the memo, seen by Reuters, said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CyToPWBWG0k?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The military leaders said that President-elect Joe Biden would be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and become their commander in chief.</p><p>&quot;Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values, and oath; it is against the law.&quot;</p><p>US officials said Milley had not commented on last week&#x27;s events because he wanted to stay out of politics.</p><p>The silence was in sharp contrast to June, when Milley made a controversial walk to a church with Trump after law enforcement officers backed by National Guard troops used tear-inducing chemicals and rubber bullets to clear the area of peaceful protesters.</p><p>Some service members have privately expressed concern that senior leaders did not provide direction in the aftermath of the attack on American democracy on Wednesday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWjqnr6R3nY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>On Twitter, the head of US forces in South Korea said that what happened occurred in Washington DC on Wednesday was an &quot;attempted insurrection.&quot;</p><p>&quot;If you are serving in uniform and think it was something else, I would encourage (you) to sit down and read the constitution that you swore an oath to support and defend,&quot; General Robert Abrams said.</p><p>There has also been a renewed focus on extremism within the U.S. military after the Capitol storming.</p><p>The Army told Reuters on Tuesday that it was working with the FBI to see if any attackers were current service members and with the Secret Service to see if any of the nearly 10,000 National Guard troops securing Biden&#x27;s inauguration would need additional screening.</p>

<p>The joint message broke nearly a week of silence by the military leaders after the assault on the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump sent lawmakers into hiding and left five people dead.<br /> </p>

The joint message broke nearly a week of silence by the military leaders after the assault on the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump sent lawmakers into hiding and left five people dead.

In rare joint message, top US military leaders condemn Capitol riot

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In rare joint message, top US military leaders condemn Capitol riot

Idrees Ali,

Reuters

Published Jan 13, 2021 03:44 PM PHT

Read More:

US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff

General Mark Milley

Capitol Hill riot

pro-Trump protesters

US Capitol

US elections 2020

US presidential elections

US 2020 presidential elections

Biden

US 2020 polls

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