Current:Home > NewsGen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says -Elevate Capital Network
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
View
Date:2025-04-16 04:09:19
Retired Gen. Mark Milley, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Trump and Biden administrations, has had both his security detail and his security clearance revoked, the Pentagon says.
New Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well," Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot told CBS News in a statement Tuesday night.
Ullyot said Hegseth "also directed" the Defense Department's Office of Inspector General to "conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milley's conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination."
Acting Defense Department Inspector General Stephen Stebbins received a request to review whether Milley, a four-star general, should be stripped of a star, a spokesperson with the Pentagon's inspector general's office also told CBS News. Stebbins is reviewing the request.
Mr. Trump nominated Milley to head the Joint Chiefs during his first term, a position Milley held for a full four-year term from 2019 until 2023.
Mr. Trump and Milley, however, had a public falling out in the final months of Mr. Trump's first term over several incidents, beginning with an apology Milley issued for taking part, while dressed in fatigues, in the photo opin front of St. John's Church in June 2020 after federal officers cleared out social justice protesters from Lafayette Park so Mr. Trump could walk to the church from the White House.
A book published in September 2021revealed that Milley had also engaged in two phone calls — one on Oct. 30, 2020, and the second on Jan. 8, 2021, two days after the Capitol insurrection — with Chinese General Li Zuocheng of the People's Liberation Army in order to assure him that the U.S. would not launch an attack against China and that the U.S. was stable.
At the time of the revelation, Mr. Trump claimed Milley should be tried for "treason." Then, in a shocking 2023 social media post, Mr. Trump suggested the calls constituted a "treasonous act" that could warrant execution.
In an October 2023 interviewwith "60 Minutes," Milley said the calls were "an example of deescalation. So — there was clear indications — that the Chinese were very concerned about what they were observing — here in the United States."
According to another 2021 book, Milley feared that Mr. Trump would attempt a coupafter losing the 2020 election and made preparations in case such a plan had been carried out.
On Jan. 20, as he was leaving office, former President Joe Biden preemptively pardonedMilley along with others he thought could be targeted by the Trump administration.
In a statement Tuesday, Joe Kasper, Defense Department Chief of Staff, told CBS News that "undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump's leadership."
The Trump administration has also revoked the federal security details of former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, former Trump special envoy on Iran Brian Hook and Dr. Anthony Fauci, former longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Melissa Quinn contributed to this report.
- In:
- Pentagon
- Mark Milley
- Donald Trump
- Defense Department
Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (866)
Related
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Browns star Nick Chubb expected to miss rest of NFL season with 'very significant' knee injury
- 'The Other Black Girl' explores identity and unease
- Alabama Barker Reveals the Best Beauty Advice Stepmom Kourtney Kardashian Has Given Her
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Making a mark: London’s historic blue plaques seek more diversity as 1,000th marker is unveiled
- This is what a Florida community looks like 3 years after hurricane damage
- Tampa Bay Rays set to announce new stadium in St. Petersburg, which will open in 2028 season
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Delta Air Lines flight lands safely after possible lightning strike
Ranking
- Small twin
- Prison escapes in America: How common are they and what's the real risk?
- House Republicans put forth short-term deal to fund government
- Below Deck Med's Captain Sandy Yawn Is Engaged to Leah Shafer
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Everyone sweats to at least some degree. Here's when you should worry.
- Canada expels Indian diplomat as it probes possible link to Sikh’s slaying. India rejects allegation
- A look at recent vintage aircraft crashes following a deadly collision at the Reno Air Races
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
'Odinism', ritual sacrifice raised in defense of Delphi, Indiana double-murder suspect
'Real Housewives' star Shannon Beador arrested for drunk driving, hit-and-run
Michigan State tells football coach Mel Tucker it will fire him for misconduct with rape survivor
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
New Spain soccer coach names roster made up largely of players who've threatened boycott
Ukraine fires 6 deputy defense ministers as heavy fighting continues in the east
German higher regional court decides lower court can hear hear case against McCann suspect