Joint Chiefs of Staff condemn congressional storming, confirm Biden as next commander-in-chief

On Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 12), the Joint Chiefs Of Staff, a group of top U.S. military service generals, issued a memo condemning last Wednesday’s storming of Congress and reminding all U.S. service members to support and defend the Constitution “from all enemies, foreign and domestic,” while confirming that President-elect Joe Biden will become the 46th commander-in-chief of the U.S. military on Jan. 20.

The memo describes last Wednesday’s violent riot as “a direct attack on the U.S. Congress, the Capitol and our constitutional process” and mourns the loss of two Capitol Police officers and other lives lost in the incident.

The memo emphasized that the right to freedom of speech and assembly does not give anyone the right to resort to violence, incitement to rebellion and riot, and called the riot that occurred inside the Capitol last Wednesday inconsistent with the rule of law.

These top-ranking military officers unanimously stated that the U.S. military will continue to obey the lawful orders of civilian leadership to protect the U.S. Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic, while supporting civilian authorities in protecting life and property and helping to ensure public safety under the law.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff also called on U.S. military units to embody national ideals.

“As service members, we must represent the values and ideals of our nation,” the Pentagon’s top generals said in the memo, “and we support and defend the Constitution. Any disruption of the constitutional process is not only contrary to our traditions, values and oath of office, it is also against the law.”

The memo also simultaneously confirmed Biden as the new commander-in-chief of the U.S. military. “On January 20, in accordance with the Constitution, confirmed by the states and the courts, and certified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be sworn in as Commander-in-Chief.”

The Joint Chiefs of Staff concluded the memo with a call to arms to all U.S. troops: “Men and women who defend our nation, whether you are stationed overseas or at home, please always be prepared, keep your eyes on the horizon and remain focused on the mission. We salute your tireless efforts to defend every American.”