“The head of the D.C. National Guard, Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, said Friday that he has been ordered removed from his command effective Jan. 20, 12:01 p.m., just as Donald Trump is sworn in as president.
Schwartz’s forced departure will come in the midst of the presidential inauguration that he has spent months helping plan alongside D.C. police, the U.S. Secret Service and other top District officials. He will turn over command to an interim as power transfers from one president to the next, and just before the inaugural parade marches down Pennsylvania Avenue.
“The timing is extremely unusual,” Schwartz said in an interview Friday morning, confirming a memo announcing his ouster that was obtained by The Washington Post. During the inauguration, Schwartz would command not only the members of the D.C. guard but also an additional 5,000 unarmed troops sent in from across the country to help. He also would oversee military air support protecting the nation’s capital during the inauguration.
“My troops will be on the street,” Schwartz, 65, said. “I’ll see them off but I won’t be able to welcome them back to the armory.” He said that he would “never plan to leave a mission in the middle of a battle.””
www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/commanding-general-of-dc-national-guard-to-be-removed-from-post/2017/01/13/725a0438-d99e-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html?utm_term=.5998685dc833
Appointed by Obama Bush in 2008:
www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/1/1513.html
YAHOO IS PUTTING THIS ON THE PRESIDENT
finance.yahoo.com/news/president-just-fired-top-commander-174256774.html
Business Insider also blames Obama:
www.businessinsider.com/dc-national-guard-chief-removed-command-2017-1
Talking Points Memo is circulating a FAKE NEWS story that Trump ordered this:
talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/dc-national-guard-chief-removed-inauguration
They cite NO EVIDENCE for the claim that Trump ordered this. All they link to is the Wash Post story in my OP. The Wash Post story DOES NOT BLAME TRUMP.
No ‘credible’ security threats to Trump inauguration: government
“Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Friday the government sees no immediate threats for the January 20 inauguration, during which close to a million people could amass in downtown Washington.
Johnson said US authorities have ramped up security preparations in light of the rise of “lone wolf” type attacks, including recent atrocities in Nice, France and Berlin, Germany in which attackers drove trucks into large crowds.
But he stressed: “We know of no specific credible threat” to the massive event.”
www.yahoo.com/news/no-credible-security-threats-trump-inauguration-174203098.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_OXN4NKgfQ
h/t The Original Mind