Statement by Former U.S. Secretaries of Defense: "Military Cannot Intervene in Election Results"

Minju and Gonghwa Members Alike Join to Co-Author Article
"Now It's Time to Officially Count Votes According to the Constitution"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former U.S. Secretaries of Defense have emphasized that the military should not be mobilized in relation to the presidential election results. They warned that the military must not be involved in any way with former President Donald Trump's attempts to contest the election. This unified voice came from former Secretaries of Defense from both Democratic and Republican administrations.

On the 3rd (local time), in a joint op-ed published by The Washington Post (WP), 10 former Secretaries of Defense stressed that the military must not interfere with the election results. They stated, "The U.S. military cannot play any role in determining the outcome of American elections," and condemned attempts by the military to intervene in election disputes as dangerous, illegal, and unconstitutional.

Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

Earlier, suspicious movements were observed several times during the Trump administration. Michael Flynn, Trump's first National Security Advisor, mentioned the possibility of martial law in relation to the election. Christopher Miller, who succeeded Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense after Esper was abruptly dismissed by President Trump, also took leave and halted meetings with the transition team.

The former Secretaries of Defense said, "The election has already taken place, recounts and verifications have been conducted, governors have certified the results, and the Electoral College has voted," adding, "It is time to officially count the Electoral College votes according to the Constitution." They emphasized that the military must not act and that there is no more time for controversy regarding the election.

Notably, the op-ed was led by former Secretaries of Defense affiliated with the Republican Party. It is known that the proposal for this op-ed came from former Vice President Dick Cheney, who also served as Secretary of Defense in the past.