Senators Chuck Grassley and Jim Banks are demanding answers about former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley's controversial communications with China and alleged attempts to circumvent military protocols during the final months of Trump's presidency.
According to Fox News, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Pentagon's acting inspector general to conduct a fresh review of Milley's actions, including whether there is sufficient evidence to reduce his retirement rank.
The renewed investigation comes after an earlier probe requested by the senators in August 2022 was closed without providing what they deemed "acceptable answers" to their questions. The allegations against Milley stem from revelations in Bob Woodward and Robert Costa's book "Peril," which detailed the general's communications with Chinese military leadership and his reported concerns about President Trump's mental state.
The book "Peril" revealed that Milley had assured his Chinese counterpart that he would provide advance warning of any potential U.S. military action against China.
While Milley has confirmed these communications took place, he maintained they were conducted under the direction of then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper following intelligence suggesting Chinese concerns about possible escalation.
Milley emphasized that while he engaged in these communications, he stated he was "not going to tip off any enemy to what the United States is going to do in an actual plan." The general's actions have sparked intense debate about the appropriate boundaries of military leadership's authority and communication with foreign powers.
These revelations have raised significant questions about the chain of command and civilian control of the military, with critics arguing that Milley's actions may have exceeded his authority as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
According to the book, Milley expressed serious concerns about President Trump's mental condition during his final months in office. The general reportedly believed Trump had experienced "serious mental decline" and worried about the possibility of unauthorized military actions or nuclear weapons use.
These concerns led Milley to consider implementing additional safeguards in military decision-making processes. The book details how he sought to "take any and all necessary precautions" to prevent what he viewed as potential "rogue" military actions by the president.
The general's reported efforts to insert additional oversight into military procedures have drawn sharp criticism from Republicans who view these actions as an inappropriate undermining of presidential authority.
Defense Secretary Hegseth's directive to the acting inspector general, Steven Stebbins, specifically calls for examination of whether Milley's actions constituted an effort to "undermine the chain of command." The review will also assess if there are grounds for reducing Milley's retirement rank.
This new investigation runs parallel to the concerns raised by Senators Grassley and Banks, who argue that the previous closure of their inquiry allowed Milley to avoid accountability for his actions. The lawmakers emphasized that as the nation's highest-ranking military officer, Milley had a responsibility to set an example of excellence and proper conduct.
The senators expressed particular concern about what they characterized as Milley's "willful undermining of his Commander-in-Chief," arguing that such actions posed a significant threat to civilian control of the military.
Defense Secretary Hegseth's investigation into Milley's conduct takes precedence over the senators' inquiry, though Grassley and Banks have indicated they expect answers to their long-standing questions once the current review is complete.
The investigation will scrutinize Milley's actions during one of the most contentious periods in recent U.S. military and political history. At stake are fundamental questions about military leadership's role, civilian control of the armed forces, and the proper channels for addressing concerns about presidential decision-making.
