Happy Tuesday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

THE TOPLINE: The United States’ top military officers on Tuesday condemned the “sedition and insurrection” that took place at the Capitol last week when supporters of President TrumpDonald TrumpGrowing number of GOP lawmakers say they support impeachment YouTube temporarily bars uploading of new content on Trump’s channel House passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump MORE sieged the building.

“We witnessed actions inside the Capitol building that were inconsistent with the rule of law. The rights of freedom of speech and assembly do not give anyone the right to resort to violence, sedition and insurrection,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark MilleyMark MilleyOvernight Defense: Joint Chiefs denounce Capitol attack | Contractors halt donations after siege | ‘QAnon Shaman’ at Capitol is Navy vet Joint Chiefs denounce ‘sedition and insurrection’ of Capitol attack Trump ‘accountable?’ Easier said than done MORE and the rest of the Joint Chiefs wrote in memo to the force.

In addition to the Milley, the memo was signed by Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Marines Corps, Air Force, Space Force and National Guard.

What prompted it: The memo comes almost a week after rioters stormed the Capitol while Congress was meeting to certify Joe BidenJoe BidenGrowing number of GOP lawmakers say they support impeachment House passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump Disney, Walmart say they will block donations to lawmakers who objected to Electoral College results MORE’s victory in the presidential election, forcing lawmakers, staffers and journalists to find secure locations to hide in as the mob ransacked offices, assaulted Capitol Police officers and stole property. One Capitol Police officer died from injuries suffered in the attack.

The siege came after Trump spent weeks falsely claiming the election was rigged against him and shortly after he told a crowd of his supporters in D.C. to march on the Capitol and show “strength.”

Breaking their silence: Military officers typically avoid commenting on anything that can be perceived thrusting the military into politics. But the assault on the Capitol in an effort to overturn a democratic process has shaken Washington and the nation.

Military members among mob: The attack also raised questions about the extent of extremism in the military and among veterans after several rioters were identified as former members of the military.

The woman who was fatally shot by Capitol Police while trying to breach the door to the Speaker’s Lobby was an Air Force veteran, and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel was arrested Sunday after being photographed on the Senate floor wearing tactical gear and carrying plastic zip-ties used by law enforcement as handcuffs. Another man arrested over the weekend was identified as a Navy veteran.

At least one active-duty service member, an Army psychological operations officer, is under investigation by the Army for her involvement in the rally that preceded the riot, though she insists she did not enter the Capitol.

What’s in the Joint Chiefs memo: In their memo, the Joint Chiefs reminded service members of their oath to uphold the Constitution.

“As service members, we must embody the values and ideals of the nation,” they wrote. “We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values and oath; it is against the law.”

They further reminded the force that under the Constitution, Biden will be their commander in chief next week.

“On Jan. 20, 2021, in accordance with the Constitution, confirmed by the states and the courts, and certified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be inaugurated and will become our 46th commander in chief,” they wrote.

“To our men and women deployed and at home, safeguard our country–stay ready, keep your eyes on the horizon, and remain focused on the mission,” they concluded. “We honor your continued service in defense of every American.”

 

FOUR DEFENSE CONTRACTORS AMONG FIRMS HALTING POLITICAL DONATIONS: Defense contractors Northrop Grumman, Leidos, BAE Systems and Raytheon are among a growing D of companies that announced a pause on political donations to members of Congress following violent riots at the U.S. Capitol last week.

Northrop – which last year contributed $4.8 million roughly equally to Democrats and Republicans – on Monday became the first major defense firm to halt its donations.

“We are pausing political action committee giving and evaluating the way forward,” Northrop Grumman spokesman Tim Paynter said in a statement to The Hill.

The company did not say why it made the decision, which was first reported by Defense News.

Following the trend: Leidos followed suit on Tuesday, with company chairman and CEO Roger Krone announcing the immediate pause of all political giving.

“Violence, lawlessness, and anarchy have no place in our nation. We believe in civil political discourse and the fundamental right to peacefully protest, but strongly condemn violence or intimidation,” Krone said in a statement. “In light of these events, Leidos’ Political Action Committee (PAC) has decided to temporarily pause all political donations.”

Raytheon, meanwhile, said it has “paused all political action committee contributions to reflect on the current environment and determine appropriate next steps,” according to spokesman Chris Johnson. 

And BAE Systems Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of the British defense firm of the same name, said it would pause contributions in reaction to the “deeply disturbing violence” last week.

A growing list: The four defense contractors join the growing list of firms that are cutting off donations to politicians. Some companies, including Marriott, Dow Chemical, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, AT&T, Best Buy and Amazon, are specifically targeting the 147 Republican members of the House and the Senate who opposed the Electoral College results and voted against affirming President- elect Joe Biden’s victory.

The defense companies, however, said they would temporarily suspend any political action committee (PAC) donations. 

Condemnation from others: Several other major defense firms have condemned last week’s events but have been quiet on whether they too will stop political donations, including No. 2 defense contractor Boeing.

“The vote of the people and the peaceful transition of government are core to our democracy. Our company has a long history of working with elected officials over many years. In the spirit of bipartisanship, we encourage them to work with President-elect Biden to unify our nation,” Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun said in a Jan. 7 statement.

Several defense associations have also condemned the riots including the Aerospace Industry Association and the National Defense Industrial Association.

 

‘QANON SHAMAN’ ARRESTED FOR STORMING CAPITOL IS NAVY VET: The Arizona man who wore a horned, fur-covered headdress and face paint as he and other supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol is a Navy veteran, according to the service.

Jacob Anthony Chansley, who also goes by Jake Angeli and is known among online conspiracy theorists and far-right internet groups as the “QAnon Shaman,” served in the Navy for two years, from September 2005 to October 2007, his service records show.

Chansley, 33, appeared in federal court for the first time in Phoenix this week after he turned himself in to an FBI field office on Saturday. He told authorities he traveled to Washington, D.C., because Trump called on “patriots” to attend the demonstrations.

He is facing several charges in connection with the rioting, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

His service record: While in the Navy, Chansley served as a supply clerk seaman apprentice aboard the since-decommissioned aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk from March 2006 to September 2007. He was last at a transient personnel unit in Washington State.

Task & Purpose reported that Chansley was kicked out of the Navy after refusing to take the anthrax vaccine.

Other vets involved: Five people died amid the chaos on Jan. 6, including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, a former New Jersey Air National Guard staff sergeant, who died of his injuries a day after the mayhem.

Numerous participants in the mob attack have since been found to have military connections, including Ashli Babbitt, the woman who was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the chaos. Babbitt was an Air Force veteran who served for 12 years.

And the man photographed in tactical gear and carrying zip-ties on the Senate floor, Larry Rendall Brock Jr., was a former Air Force lieutenant colonel, The New Yorker reported.

The Army is also investigating Capt. Emily Rainey, 30, for her involvement in the rally prior to the mobbing of the Capitol.

Rainey, an Army psychological operations officer, was still on active duty when she led a group at last week’s protests. She was, however, in the process of separating from the service after she had been given an adverse administrative action for a separate incident, Army Times reported.

 

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

The U.S. Institute of Peace will hold a virtual discussion on “Joe Biden’s Tough Challenges in Iran,” with Jarrett Blanc, former lead State Department coordinator for the Iran Nuclear Deal, and James Jeffrey, former ambassador to Iraq and Turkey and special envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, at 10:30 a.m. https://www.usip.org/events/joe-bidens-tough-challenges-iran?utm_source=Daily%20on%20Defense%20011221_01/12/2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Defense&rid=78393

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville will speak at a Heritage Foundation webinar on ‘Building an Army Ready for Great Power Competition,” at 11 a.m. https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/virtual-event-building-army-ready-great-power-competition?utm_source=Daily%20on%20Defense%20011221_01/12/2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Defense&rid=78393

The Association of Old Crows will hold a virtual discussion with Air Force Lt. Gen. David “DT” Thompson, vice commander of the Space Force, at 2 p.m. https://www.crows.org/general/custom.asp?page=Discussions&utm_source=Daily%20on%20Defense%20011221_01/12/2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Defense&rid=78393

The Center for Strategic and International Studies will hold a webcast on the Asia-Pacific, with former Sen. Cory GardnerCory GardnerOvernight Defense: Joint Chiefs denounce Capitol attack | Contractors halt donations after siege | ‘QAnon Shaman’ at Capitol is Navy vet Lobbying world Senate swears-in six new lawmakers as 117th Congress convenes MORE (R-Colo.), at 3 p.m. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event-conversation-former-senator-cory-gardner-asia-pacific?utm_source=Daily%20on%20Defense%20011221_01/12/2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEX_Daily%20on%20Defense&rid=78393

 

ICYMI

— The Hill: Planned protests spark fears of more violence in Trump’s final days
 
— The Hill: Director of Army Staff disputes Capitol Police chief account of National Guard deployment
 
— The Hill: Acting DHS chief Chad Wolf stepping down
 
— The Hill: Senior intelligence official says China, Russia targeting COVID-19 vaccine supply chain
 
— The Hill: Cyber czar to draw on new powers from defense bill
 
— The Hill: Tillerson: ‘We squandered the best opportunity we had on North Korea’
 
— Stars and Stripes: Experts tell senators a waiver for retired 4-star to become defense secretary could set ‘dangerous precedent’

— The Associated Press: Why National Guard’s role was limited during US Capitol riot
 
— Military Times: The Pentagon won’t say how many COVID-19 vaccines it’s given to troops

Concerns are growing over security threats surrounding President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenGrowing number of GOP lawmakers say they support impeachment House passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump Disney, Walmart say they will block donations to lawmakers who objected to Electoral College results MORE’s inauguration next week after the attack on the Capitol rattled the country’s confidence and put scrutiny on law enforcement and safety in Washington.

Last week’s siege, in which a pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol and was overheard hunting for Vice President Pence and Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHouse passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump Trump told Pence he could be a ‘patriot’ or ‘p—-‘ when overseeing election vote: report Pelosi names 9 impeachment managers MORE (D-Calif.), has set off a scramble to avoid a repeat as right-wing groups vow to try to storm the building on Jan. 20 when Biden, lawmakers and former presidents gather.

It’s already led to a domino of announcements: Federal and state officials are beefing up law enforcement and the National Guard presence around Washington, with thousands expected to be deployed in D.C. in the coming days; Trump has declared a state of emergency; and the Secret Service will begin special protections for inaugural events on Wednesday, a week earlier than initially planned.

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“There are people plotting to do danger, at least online, and the bottom line is our authorities have to be completely on top of it,” Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerWoman interrupts Schumer press conference, calls him ‘racist anti-Semite’ Overnight Energy: EPA rule exempts many polluting industries from future air regulations | Ex-Michigan governor to be charged over Flint water crisis: report | Officials ousted from White House after papers casting doubt on climate science Senate to be briefed on inauguration security after Capitol attack MORE (D-N.Y.) told reporters.

Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew CoonsTrump impeachment collides with Biden’s agenda Sanders to wield gavel as gatekeeper for key Biden proposals Nearly 6,000 lawyers and law students call for disbarment proceedings against Cruz and Hawley MORE (D-Del.), in a recent interview with CBS News, said that the federal government needs to “flood the zone around the Capitol.”

The inauguration will come exactly two weeks after rioters attacked the Capitol, including swarming the West Front, where Biden will receive the Oath of Office, scaling scaffolding and bleachers built for the ceremony.

The leaders of D.C., Maryland and Virginia have pleaded with Americans to stay home and participate in the inauguration virtually, given the dual threats of violence and persistent high levels of COVID-19 cases. And D.C. residents on messaging boards are asking others to reconsider renting out their properties on platforms such as Airbnb during the period around the inauguration.

“I want to continue to ask all of our residents to stay away from the downtown, to enjoy the inauguration activities virtually, and let our law enforcement keep peace,” D.C. Mayor Muriel BowserMuriel BowserThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump’s first public event since Twitter ban Lawmakers briefed on ‘horrifying,’ ‘chilling’ security threats ahead of inauguration The Hill’s Morning Report – House to impeach Trump on Wednesday MORE (D) said on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday.

Biden told reporters Monday that he isn’t afraid of taking the oath of office outdoors, as is customary. He also indicated that he had received briefings on the issue, though his transition team did not return a request for more details on what information Biden and his advisers are receiving.

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Lawmakers in charge of planning the event are vowing to move forward, even as members privately raise concerns about their own security as threats pour in from across the country.

“We will be swearing in President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021. The [Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies] is working around the clock with our many partners to execute ceremonies that are safe and showcase our determined democracy — to Americans and the world,” the inauguration committee said in a statement.

Members of the committee met this week, officials working on the inauguration were spotted separately doing walkthroughs of the Capitol and briefings are expected on updated security plans in the wake of last week’s riot. 

Unlike the Electoral College count the rioters disrupted, the inauguration is considered a National Security Special Event, a designation that will start on Wednesday. A committee spokesperson said it would provide “significant law enforcement and national guard presence as part of the layered security measures within the expanded footprint.”

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad WolfChad WolfOvernight Defense: Joint Chiefs denounce Capitol attack | Contractors halt donations after siege | ‘QAnon Shaman’ at Capitol is Navy vet The Hill’s Morning Report – House to impeach Trump on Wednesday Planned protests spark fears of more violence in Trump’s final days MORE announced plans to move up the security period on Monday, about an hour before abruptly resigning from his position.

But the attack and online chatter from insurrectionist groups is keeping tensions high in the District and putting scrutiny on what was already expected to be a pared-down inauguration due the coronavirus pandemic.

House lawmakers were informed of four specific armed threats against the White House, Capitol and Supreme Court during a call Monday evening. One plot involved thousands of pro-Trump radicals aiming to surround the Capitol in order to prevent Democrats from going, according to Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), who detailed the threat in an interview on CNN.

The Senate also got a security briefing on the inauguration on Tuesday, and Schumer privately pushed FBI Director Christopher Wray to add participants in the Capitol riot to no-fly lists to try to prevent them from carrying out additional unrest.

On Tuesday afternoon, officials announced that a Chicago man had been arrested and charged with making threats of violence to Biden’s inauguration via a voicemail left for a New Jersey House lawmaker.

Underscoring the depth of concern, Sen. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanMcConnell won’t reprise role as chief Trump defender GOP senator to Trump: Urge peace or bear responsibility for additional attacks Two Senate committees vow probe of security failure during Capitol riots MORE (R-Ohio) issued a forceful statement saying Trump should address the nation and urge his supporters to remain peaceful.

“If our nation experiences additional violence and destruction at the hands of his supporters … and he does not directly and unambiguously speak out now when threats are known, he will bear responsibility,” Portman said.

The concerns come as Trump, who has been locked out of his beloved Twitter account to prevent him from further inciting violence, has done little to tamp down the tensions. He told reporters Tuesday that he wanted “no violence” but assailed Democrats for trying to impeach him a second time over his role in the riot, saying their efforts are causing “tremendous anger” and endangering the country.

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Trump took no responsibility for his rhetoric that incited the mob of angry supporters, calling his words “totally appropriate.”

Meanwhile, Washington is being fortified.

As many as 15,000 National Guard service members will head to the nation’s capital to assist with security ahead of the inauguration.

The Capitol, including nearby office buildings and the Supreme Court, has been surrounded by a seven-foot fence after rioters were quickly able to breach metal barricades that were in place around the building last week. National Guard members are also stationed in and around the Capitol, and metal detectors were placed outside of the House chamber.

Rep. Tim RyanTimothy (Tim) RyanLawmakers briefed on ‘horrifying,’ ‘chilling’ security threats ahead of inauguration The Hill’s Morning Report – House to impeach Trump on Wednesday Trump impeachment collides with Biden’s agenda MORE (D-Ohio), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said that additional funding was also being allocated.

“We will make sure that Washington, D.C., is secure for the administration of the Oath of Office to Vice President Biden and that everybody there will be safe and secure, and we will have a smooth transition of power,” he told reporters during a conference call.

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Under pressure from Bowser, Trump on Monday declared an emergency in the District around the inauguration, allowing additional federal funding to flow to support protection efforts.

It’s not just Washington that is on high alert. The FBI is warning of potential armed protests at state capitols across the country in the days leading up to the inauguration.

Clint Watts, a former FBI official and fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said he is more worried about attacks on less-protected targets, such as state capitols, rather than the U.S. Capitol because of how extreme the security will be on the Inauguration Day.

“We will not see a major incident. They will lock down the Capitol,” Watts said. “If there’s anybody in the pipeline right now preparing an attack at a state capitol … you’ve got an FBI that’s absolutely loaded with case leads right now.”

Green groups on Monday filed a lawsuit in an attempt to prevent a new rule limiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) use of certain studies from taking effect.

The lawsuit takes aim at the EPA’s Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science rule, also known as the “secret science” rule, which restricts the use of studies that don’t make their underlying data public. 

The agency has billed the rule as a transparency measure, though its opponents argue that it will prevent consideration of important public health studies that can’t publish their data for reasons such as privacy. 

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The suit, brought by the Environmental Defense Fund, the Montana Environmental Information Center and Citizens for Clean Energy, argued that the rule itself and its immediate effective date violate the Administrative Procedure Act. 

Specifically, it argued against the agency’s characterization of the rule as procedural, which would allow it to become effective when it is published in the Federal Register, arguing instead that the rule is “substantial” and should get a 30-day waiting period like other substantial rules. 

Deepak Gupta, one of the lawyers on the case, told The Hill that even though the effective date may sound like a minor procedural issue, it has “enormous consequences.”

“If the rule doesn’t go into effect immediately, we can ask the EPA to delay the rule and then challenge the rule and it might never go into effect,” Gupta said, adding that he’d expect the Biden administration to try to undo it.

The suit also argued that the rule will “cripple the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to protect public health and the environment by fundamentally transforming the ways in which the agency may consider and rely on scientific evidence.”

The EPA did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment. 

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In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last week announcing that the rule had been finalized, EPA Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerOVERNIGHT ENERGY: White House intervened to weaken EPA guidance on ‘forever chemicals’ | Environmental groups sue in bid to block ‘secret science’ rule | EPA preps for transition with unusual change to succession orders Environmental groups sue in bid to block EPA ‘secret science’ rule  EPA preps for transition of power with unusual change to succession orders MORE wrote that “part of transparency is making sure the public knows what the agency bases its decisions on.”

“When agencies defer to experts in private without review from citizens, distinctions get flattened and the testing and deliberation of science is precluded,” he added.

Updated at 6:16 p.m.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with another blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:

WWE’s Mexican Tour: “How did WWE do in Mexico City? HUGE…almost 20,000 people and a live gate hovering just under $1M. WWE will produce TVs in Mexico City this fall which has been on the drawing board from quite some time. W/ Rey Mysterio, Alberto Del Rio, and now Sin Cara in the fold, WWE has significantly strengthened its position in the Mexico marketplace as their TV ratings indicate. Strong TV clearances in Mexico has been vital to WWE’s growth there too.”

Managers Returning: “Will WWE begin to utilize managers again? Not sure what the story on that is but apparently Michael Hayes filled that role with Tyson Kidd on WWE Superstars this week which can be seen on http//www.wwe.com now. I assume ‘PS’ wore attire from his ‘Don Cornelius/Soul Train’ collection. If WWE does utilize ‘managers’ it will be new again and some key, manager additions can help younger talents in a variety of ways. I am a fan of managers. Arn Anderson would make a great mentor/manager IMO.”

Chyna In TNA: ” What are my thoughts on Chyna returning to TV? Happy for her. Why wouldn’t I be? She needs to earn a living too. Not sure where she is as it relates to her passion for the genre any longer but she is earning a pay day. For the record, I still don’t endorse women wrestling men plus I never said Chyna was undeserving of Hall of Fame consideration as some misinterpreted.”

* PICTURES from CHYNA’s TNA Debut: See How She Looks

(Source: JRsBarBQ.com)