Republican senators are calling on the Pentagon watchdog to investigate alleged misconduct and work to "undermine the former chairman of former Chief of Staff Mark Milley, Fox News Digital, learned.
R-Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and R-Ind. Senator Jim Banks wrote a letter received by Fox News Digital to Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins, a DOD, applying for their 2022 review of Millie's conduct.
Miley still didn't respond to the bank, Grassley's letter, which reads "Commitment to Civilian Control"
"We are writing to ensure that our concerns about former Chief of Staff General Mark Milley are finally resolved," Grassley and Banks wrote.
The two senators requested an independent review of the behavior on August 17, 2022, when the bank served as chairman of the House Republican Learning Committee, but the review was closed by the former inspector general and “never provided an acceptable answer to our questions.”
General Mark Milley was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Kevin Dietsch)
Grassley and Banks said that since “resurrecting this review”, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has directed the Acting Inspector General to “review General Miley’s alleged misconduct, including his “breaking of the command link”.”
Hegseth also sought answers, “Whether there is enough evidence that General Millie will be deprived of a star when he retires.”
Grassley and the Banks wrote: “The Secretary’s request is parallel to ours.
Acting Secretary of Defense Miller said he did not authorize Milli to China's phone number
The Senator's inquiry was triggered by "explosive remarks" made by Milley in several books, including "danger" from Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. The books chronicled Milley making "disparaging remarks about his Commander-in-Chief" and attempting "to insert himself in the nuclear chain of command despite having no nuclear command authority," Grassley and Banks said.
They also mentioned Millie’s commitment to his Chinese counterparts ahead of any potential U.S. attack on Beijing.
Fox News Digital reported in 2021 that Milley confirmed that he did tell his Chinese counterparts that he might call on him to talk in the direction of assessing then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper before any potential U.S. attacks on China, suggesting that he was evaluating China's intelligence that showed China's concerns are intensifying.
Senator Chuck Grassley was seen at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
However, Miley added that he “will not provide any enemy for what the United States will do in its actual plan.”
The book also records Milley's comments, in which he believes that then-President Donald Trump "has severely reduced mental decline...it could be done to rogue and order military operations or use nuclear weapons without the required procedures."
Flashback: Miley confirms that he told China that he would call ahead of the US attack, Esper calls according to Intel orders
The MPs also pointed out that the book's report shows that Millie must "take any necessary precautions" to prevent the former president from engaging in "rogue" military operations, and he "wanted to find a way, if not required, that's the second opinion."
Grassley and Banks said the former Defense Inspector General's "refusal to investigate has allowed Milley to evade responsibility."
State Senator Andy Zay will bid for Banks’ open day seat as Republican Rep. Jim Banks will retire in hopes to move to the U.S. Senate in the U.S. Sen. Andy Zay will bid for Banks’ open day seat. (Bill Clark/CQ rolling phone)
“The highest officers in the country have a solemn duty to set an example of excellence and to shape good conduct for all American service personnel,” they wrote. “The records show that General Milley failed to meet these criteria.”
Grassley and Banks said Milley's actions and intentional destruction of his commander-in-chief pose a serious threat to military civilian control. ”
"The questions raised by Miley's so-called misconduct are too important to be swept off the carpet," they wrote. "It must be inspected and if they are confirmed, General Miley should be held accountable."
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Grasley and the bank added that the acting inspector general "will be greatly appreciated".
Milley did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.