WASHINGTON (AP) — In a uncommon transfer, the Pentagon strongly pushed again Thursday in opposition to misinformation unfold on social media that falsely suggests U.S. troops have been approved to make use of drive in opposition to Americans through the election.
The misinformation — unfold on-line by former Trump administration nationwide safety adviser Michael Flynn and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., amongst others — suggests {that a} Protection Division coverage revision launched in late September was timed to intrude with the Nov. 5 presidential election.
Use of drive by federal troops on U.S. soil in opposition to U.S. civilians is in opposition to the regulation — besides in circumstances of self-defense — and is printed within the Posse Comitatus Act.
Kennedy, who ended his presidential bid and backed Republican former President Donald Trump, tweeted the false narrative to his 4 million followers. It falsely claims that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, pushed by way of a Protection Division directive permitting deadly drive in opposition to Individuals who protest authorities insurance policies.
The revision in query is Division of Protection Directive 5240.01, and it doesn’t enable troops to make use of drive on U.S. residents. The timing of its launch was not associated to the election, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough stated.
“The insurance policies regarding using drive by DOD addressed in DoDD 5240.01 should not new, and don’t authorize the DOD to make use of deadly drive in opposition to U.S. residents or individuals situated inside the USA, opposite to rumors and rhetoric circulating on social media,” Gough stated in an announcement to The Related Press.
The Pentagon repeatedly updates its directives. This replace was supposed to align the language on use of drive from different insurance policies into 5240.01, which solely applies to protection intelligence personnel.
It describes what kind of help these personnel can present to civilian regulation enforcement in conditions the place a confrontation or deadly use of drive is probably going.
Protection intelligence personnel can present intelligence, evaluation, coaching, tools and even weapons to civilian authorities. However they’re nonetheless restricted from utilizing drive themselves in these conditions.
