User:Feoffer/Planning of the 2021 attack on the United States Capitol

Miller
Christopher C. Miller served as an inspector for the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight from late 2017 until he was detailed to the NSC in the Spring of 2018. In 2020, he became deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and combating terrorism. He was involved in designating Iran, Hezbollah, and American domestic terrorism as threats to the United States.

Trump nominated Miller to the role of Director of the National Counterterrorism Center in March 2020.

McCarthy
In June 2017, Trump nominated Ryan McCarthy to become the Under Secretary of the Army. While Under Secretary, he served as acting Secretary of the Army twice. The first was from August 3 to November 20, 2017. The second was from June 24 to July 15, 2019, while Secretary of the Army Mark Esper was acting as Secretary of Defense.

President Trump nominated McCarthy to become the Secretary of the Army on June 21, 2019. He was confirmed on September 26, 2019 and was sworn in on September 30, 2019.

Response to George Floyd protests in D.C.
On May 29, protests outside the White House triggered a lockdown and the Secret Service rushed Trump to the underground bunker.

Trump was enraged when his trip to the bunker was publicly reported on May 31; Trump felt it gave the impression he was hiding during the protests. On social media, critics derided Trump as a 'coward' with the moniker "Bunker Boy". Trump's displeasure over the coverage reportedly led to his decision to stage a photo op at St. John's Church.

In 2020, amid the George Floyd protests, McCarthy activated the D.C. National Guard, which included the use of aviation assets to support local and Federal law enforcement efforts. During the protests, McCarthy gave the order to deploy helicopters in response to the protests.

On June 2, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Army later found a "systematic lack of understanding" of how to use military aviation to respond to civil disturbances and resulted in disciplinary action taken against several individuals involved in the operation.

Proud Boys mobilize
On November 7, an alleged leader of the Proud Boys publicly posted "We're rolling out. Standby order has been rescinded". By November 10, D.C. officials were expecting an influx of Proud Boys during the upcoming weekend.

Chair of the Joint Chiefs learns of plans
On November 8, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley was informed that Trump and his allies were attempting to "overturn the government".

Post-election purge of DoD
On November 9, Trump began what has been called a "purge", firing or forcing out at least a dozen officials and replacing them with loyalists. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper was fired by tweet. Undersecretary for Defense Joseph D. Kernan and Acting Undersecretary for Policy James H. Anderson resigned in protest or were forced out. The White House sought to learn the names of political appointees who had applauded Anderson upon his departure, so they could be fired. The DOD chief of staff, Jen Stewart, was replaced by a former staffer to Representative Devin Nunes.

D.C. Rally of Nov 14
On November 13, Mike Flynn and Sidney Powell publicly call for 'defense of the republic' and 'a new American revolution'.

On November 14, D.C. was the site of rallies by white nationalists and members of far-right groups such as the Proud Boys. Some wore helmets and bullet-proof vests. Some Republican members of Congress also attended. Demonstrators gave various names to their action, including "Million MAGA March", "Stop the Steal" rally, and "March for Trump".

Trump waved to demonstrators as his Secret Service motorcade passed Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department said it initially arrested 20 people for a variety of reasons including firearm violations, assault, assaulting a police officer, and disorderly conduct. After nightfall, violence broke out between demonstrators and counter-protesters. Anti-Trump demonstrators began stealing MAGA hats and flags and proceeded to light them on fire. As the unrest continued to unfold, Trump apparel vendor's tables were overturned and fireworks were set off. The disturbances culminated when violence broke out five blocks east of the White House between the counter-protesters and the president's supporters, who wielded batons. As the groups approached, they charged each other, brawling for several minutes before police arrived and cleared the intersection. During the melee, a District fire official said a man was stabbed in the back and taken to a hospital.

DoD interrupts presidential transition
On November 30, Christopher P. Maier, the head of the Pentagon's Defeat ISIS Task Force, was ousted and the task force was disbanded; a White House official told him that the United States had won the war against the Islamic State, so the task force was no longer needed. In December 2020, Miller interrupted Pentagon cooperation with the presidential transition, ordering the postponement of 40 meetings with the incoming Biden administration.

Trump pressures DOJ
The resignation of Attorney General William Barr was publicly announced on December 14. On December 27, in a phone call with Trump, DOJ officials reminded that "DOJ can't and won't snap its fingers and change the outcome of the election", Trump replies "just say that the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the R[epublican] Congressmen”.

DoD defanged
On January 3, 2021 Trump ordered Miller to "do whatever was necessary to protect the demonstrators" on January 6. The following day, Miller issued orders which prohibited deploying D.C. Guard members with weapons, helmets, body armor or riot control agents without his personal approval. On January 5, Secretary of the Army McCarthy issued a memo placing limits on the District of Columbia National Guard. Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the commanding general of the DC National Guard, later explained: "All military commanders normally have immediate response authority to protect property, life, and in my case, federal functions — federal property and life. But in this instance I did not have that authority."

Timeline

 * Dec 14 - Barr resignation announced
 * Jan 3 -  Trump orders SecDef Miller to protect demonstrators on Jan 6.