Re:A physical breach is a nightmare scenario for Capitol IT
by jki275 on Friday January 08, 2021 @05:15PM
(#25691242)
That story is inaccurate speculation - it is not possible for the VP to issue orders to the military in any scenario unless the President is dead or has been removed from office. The military would disregard any such orders.
Secdef could issue those orders in POTUS’ name, he likely has the delegated authority to do so, but the VP is not in the chain of command and has no authority.
Indeed it is. Since DC has no governor, the US president is the CINC of the DC National Guard.
Hence it is particularly damning that while the DCNG was activated two days in advance as the terrorist threat to DC became evident, the White House did not give the go-ahead for them to come to the aid of the Capitol Police.
Apparently this permission eventually came late in the day after events were already under control, reportedly conveyed by the Pentagon on orders of Pence rather than Trump.