Ex-pentagon, DOJ chiefs criticized in hearing on Jan. 6

The two men who were in charge of the Pentagon and Justice Department on Jan. 6 on Wednesday defended their response to the pro-trump riot amid rampant criticism that armed National Guard units took far too long to arrive after the Capitol was breached.

Christopher Miller, who was the acting defense secretary at the time, told members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that “criticism of the military response is unfounded, and reflects inexperience with, or a lack of understanding of, the nature of military operations, or worse, that it is simply the result of politics.”

Democrats on the panel opened Wednesday’s hearing with demands for a reckoning.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-new York, who chairs the committee, criticizing the Justice Department and the Pentagon for not giving “a single piece of paper” to the House committees investigating the insurrection.

“It’s clear that despite all of this intelligence, the federal government was not prepared,” Maloney said.

Wednesday’s audience with Miller and former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen marked the first time that either former Trump administration official has spoken publicly with lawmakers about the events of Jan. 6.

Miller testified that responsibility to call up the D.C. National Guard had been delegated to him by President Donald Trump well in advance of Jan. 6, and that he resisted Mayor Muriel Bowser’s early calls to deploy those troops “until the concept of the operation — the plan — was finalized.” He approved unarmed troops on Jan. 4, he said.

Miller added that he was wary of the National Guard being made to look like they were trampling on the demonstrators’ First Amendment rights.

The oversight committee’s top Republican, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, went after Rosen, who was in charge of coordinating the federal agency response Jan. 6.

“Who executed Ashli Babbitt?” Comer asked, referring to the rioter shot by a Capitol Police officer while trying to enter the House chamber. Rosen struggled to answer.

Comer accused Democrats of being “hypocritical” for refusing to examine “the political violence Americans witnessed on television every night last summer.”

JONATHAN ERNST/POOL, AP Rep. James Comer, R-KY., talks with Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Wednesday during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing regarding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.