In rare move, Pentagon denies falsehood about troops allowed to use force during election

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a uncommon move, nan Pentagon powerfully pushed backmost Thursday against misinformation dispersed connected societal media that falsely suggests U.S. troops person been authorized to usage unit against American citizens during nan election.

The misinformation — dispersed online by erstwhile Trump management nationalist information advisor Michael Flynn and former statesmanlike campaigner Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among others — suggests that a Defense Department argumentation revision released successful precocious September was timed to interfere pinch nan Nov. 5 statesmanlike election.

Use of unit by national troops connected U.S. ungraded against U.S. civilians is against nan rule — isolated from successful cases of self-defense — and is outlined successful nan Posse Comitatus Act.

Kennedy, who ended his statesmanlike bid and backed Republican erstwhile President Donald Trump, tweeted nan mendacious communicative to his 4 cardinal followers. It falsely claims that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, nan Democratic nominee, pushed done a Defense Department directive allowing lethal unit against Americans who protestation authorities policies.

The revision successful mobility is Department of Defense Directive 5240.01, and it does not let troops to usage unit connected U.S. citizens. The timing of its merchandise was not related to nan election, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough said.

“The policies concerning nan usage of unit by DOD addressed successful DoDD 5240.01 are not new, and do not authorize nan DOD to usage lethal unit against U.S. citizens aliases group located wrong nan United States, contrary to rumors and rhetoric circulating connected societal media,” Gough said successful a connection to The Associated Press.

The Pentagon regularly updates its directives. This update was intended to align nan connection connected usage of unit from different policies into 5240.01, which only applies to defense intelligence personnel.

It describes what benignant of support those unit tin supply to civilian rule enforcement successful situations wherever a confrontation aliases lethal usage of unit is likely.

Defense intelligence unit tin supply intelligence, analysis, training, instrumentality and moreover weapons to civilian authorities. But they are still restricted from utilizing unit themselves successful those situations.