WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Pentagon watchdog’s superficial explanation of its review of potential misconduct by General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). Their critique, lodged in a recent letter to the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG), responded to a May correspondence in which DOD IG Robert Storch failed to provide any details to support his decision to cease a review of Milley’s actions.
“Your letter concludes that ‘further inquiry’ into CJCS Milley ‘is not warranted’ but offers no supporting evidence to back up that conclusion, calling into question your office’s commitment to its mission of transparency,” the lawmakers wrote.
“We cannot just accept your final determination at face value without any understanding or knowledge of the evidence that led you there. An IG should never attempt to withhold information developed during an inquiry triggered by congressional request, especially when said investigation concerns the alleged misconduct of the nation’s top military officer,” they continued.
“You and OIG staff have a responsibility to walk us through the review that was conducted at our request and to provide answers to our questions. Our offices should be given an opportunity to examine those findings. If you refuse to give us that opportunity, then we will request permission to review the relevant OIG files ourselves,” the lawmakers concluded.
The full text of the latest letter from Grassley and Banks is available HERE.
Background:
Milley – who, per the Constitution, does not have command authorities as JCS chairman – reportedly ordered senior officers to check with him before executing orders from then-President Trump, the commander-in-chief. Milley has also made partisan statements to the press, admissions in the book Peril and derogatory comments about Trump, including those in his now-public draft resignation.
In August 2022, Grassley and Banks sought an inspector general review of Milley’s actions. After nearly nine months, the OIG claimed to have conducted a thorough review, but offered no material or details to support its finding to halt its investigation.
Grassley and Banks first wrote Milley in April 2022 with the thorough background and pointed questions they provided the OIG in their August letter. After months without answer, Grassley and Banks delivered remarks on their respective chamber floors calling on Milley to respond.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up