Major General William J. Walker told
The Washington Poston Tuesday that his authority as a commander – which typically allows him to deploy National Guard troops in an emergency – was essentially removed prior to the riot carried out by the former president’s supporters.
The Pentagon had required higher level sign-off for any National Guard deployment on the day the attack on the US Capitol took place, amid other powers, Gen. Walker told
the Post. All military commanders normally have immediate response authority to protect property, life, and in my case, federal functions – federal property and life,” Gen. Walker said. “But in this instance I did not have that authority.”