“There was no direct, no order from the president,” Christopher Miller said in a video of his testimony released Tuesday by the House select committee investigating last year’s violence. Miller also denied a suggestion by former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in February 2021 that 10,000 National Guard troops were ready before January 6. “I was never given any direction or command nor was I aware of any such plans,” Miller said. “So I was surprised to see it publicly, but I don’t know the context or even where it was.” The former acting Pentagon chief added that there are plans to activate more troops, but “this was nothing more than contingency planning.” When Miller was asked directly by an investigator whether he had been ordered to have 10,000 troops ready on January 6, he replied, “A civilian could probably have some kind of weird interpretation, but no. The answer to your question is no.” Christopher Miller testified that President Donald Trump did not request that National Guard troops be deployed to the Capitol before his rally on January 6, 2021. Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images In his testimony, Miller said there were no direct orders from president for National Guard troops.AP Photo/Julio Cortez Trump has repeatedly claimed to have asked for thousands of National Guard troops to secure the Capitol, but was overruled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.). There is no evidence for such a claim, other than Trump’s word, and Pelosi’s office said she had no authority to refuse any offer of military aid. “The Committee of the Unselected has now learned that I, as the President suggested and offered up to 20,000 National Guardsmen, or troops, to be deployed in DC because it was thought the crowd would be too large,” the former president wrote. Truth Social’s platform on June 9. “Crazy Nancy Pelosi turned down the offer, she didn’t like the look of it. Likewise, the Mayor of DC,” he continued. “If they had taken the offer, there would be no January 6th. The Unchosen have excluded Pelosi “out of bounds, no questions asked.” The hearing is another political HOAX to deal with inflation etc.” Miller also denied claims by former chief of staff Mark Meadows that 10,000 troops were ready on January 6. Joshua Roberts/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesTrump claimed to have asked for 20,000 National Guard troops, but Speaker Nancy Pelosiames rejected that. On the day of the riot, according to videos released by the select committee, Miller worked closely with Vice President Mike Pence and congressional leaders to send forces to clear the Capitol of Trump supporters and secure the building. “We’re not going to let these people stop us from getting our jobs done,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Miller during a conference call at 4:45 p.m. on January 6. “So the building should be cleared, give us the okay so we can get back into session and get people’s business done as soon as possible.” “Amen, sir,” replied Miller.
