{"id":54981,"date":"2021-12-06T22:02:41","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T22:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/06\/dc-guard-official-says-the-army-is-lying-about-its-role-in-deploying-troops-on-jan-6\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:16:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:16:40","slug":"dc-guard-official-says-the-army-is-lying-about-its-role-in-deploying-troops-on-jan-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/12\/06\/dc-guard-official-says-the-army-is-lying-about-its-role-in-deploying-troops-on-jan-6\/","title":{"rendered":"DC Guard official says the Army is lying about its role in deploying troops on Jan. 6"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Another D.C. National Guard official is alleging that top Army officers tried to stall mobilization of Guard troops<\/a> in response to the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing on behalf of the then-D.C. Guard adjutant general, former staff judge advocate Army Col. Earl Matthews sent a 36-page memo<\/a>, first reported by Politico<\/a>, to the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday, questioning the Pentagon\u2019s official timeline of that day and specifically calling out a recently released Defense Department inspector general report <\/a>that found officials took appropriate action in response to the riot at the Capitol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maj. Gen. William Walker, now retired and serving as the House sergeant at arms, told lawmakers in March<\/a> that he was frustrated with the Army\u2019s decision-making process on Jan. 6, offering testimony that contradicted the official timeline released by the Army on Jan. 7<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiven the glaring deficiencies with respect to the DoD IG investigation, and given that his name was unfairly besmirched, MG Walker requests an independent review of the investigative findings of the DoDIG report and most importantly, the Army Report that was created at LTG Piatt\u2019s direction should be publicly released, independently reviewed and substantiated,\u201d Matthews wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DoD\u2019s official explanation of events is incorrect, Matthews alleges. As an example, he offers a 2:30 p.m. phone call attended by D.C and Capitol law enforcement officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthews alleges that Guard officials were told that then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who was in charge of the decision to mobilize troops, was not available to jump on the call because he was meeting with the acting defense secretary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe DoDIG report incorrectly indicates that McCarthy was an active participant on the call and that he spoke for roughly 5 minutes, before departing,\u201d Matthews wrote. \u201cDuring these 5 minutes, McCarthy was able, according to the DoDIG report, to \u2018hear and acknowledge the urgent request from [the Capitol police chief] and [D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser].\u2019 In reality, McCarthy could not have heard from Bowser during the 2:30 p.m. call because she did not participate in the call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthews also zeroes in on two high-ranking members of the Army staff: Gen. Charles Flynn, then the deputy chief of staff for operations, and Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt, director of the Army staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He claims that the generals advised against activating troops to secure the Capitol, delaying the decision that ultimately sent thousands to back up local law enforcement, arriving around 6 p.m., roughly four hours after D.C. and Capitol officials first requested their assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\t