Stage set for disaster on Inauguration Day? Riots? Anarchists?

Editor’s Note: This article originally said that Obama ordered Schwartz to be removed. However, the WaPo article makes it unclear exactly who sent the email ordering Schwartz to be removed from his post on Jan. 20 at 12:01 p.m. and it has been reported two different ways (1: ‘Trump ordered’, 2: ‘Obama ordered’). Just to be clear, it looks as if Trump may have ordered Schwartz to be removed.



WASHINGTON D.C. (INTELLIHUB) — U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz is to be removed from his post as Head of the D.C. National Guard, against standard protocol, effective as of Jan. 20, 12:01 p.m., just 60 seconds after Donald Trump takes the helm at the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.

The uncanny maneuver is designated to be classified as a “national special security event” which comes with suspicious timing, considering that Schwartz was an integral part of planning the National Guard’s event operations for the past few months, which will include thousands of guardsman currently under Schwartz’ command.

In a Friday morning interview, Schwartz said, “The timing is extremely unusual. During the Inauguration Schwartz was set to “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,” as reported by the Washington Post.

Schwartz said that he would have never planned “to leave a mission in the middle of a battle” and regrets that he will not be able to welcome his troops “back to the armory.”

In the District of Columbia, the appointment and removal of the National Guard Commander is warranted to be done only by the Commander-in-Cheif himself.

WaPo reported:

Schwartz, who was appointed to head the guard by President George W. Bush in 2008, maintained the position through President Obama’s two terms. He said his orders came from the Pentagon in the form of an e-mail that names his successor, an interim brigadier general, who takes over Jan. 20 at 12:01 p.m. […] D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) blasted the decision to remove Schwartz, particularly in the midst of the inauguration. “It doesn’t make sense to can the general in the middle of an active deployment,” Mendelson said. He added that Schwartz’s sudden departure would be a long-term loss for the District. “He’s been really very good at working with the community and my impression was that he was good for the Guard.”

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Shepard Ambellas is an opinion journalist and the founder and editor-in-chief of Intellihub News & Politics (Intellihub.com). Shepard is also known for producing Shade: The Motion Picture (2013) and appearing on Travel Channel’s America Declassified (2013). Read more from Shep’s World. Get the Podcast. Follow Shep on Facebook and Twitter.

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