Top US general tells Congress the military won't play a role in the 2020 election

America's most senior general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, told members of Congress that the military will not play a role in November's election and won't help settle any disputes if the results are contested.

Posted 9:09 p.m. Aug 28, 2020 — Updated 9:16 p.m. Aug 28, 2020

Ryan Browne

, CNN

CNN — America's most senior general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, told members of Congress that the military will not play a role in November's election and won't help settle any disputes if the results are contested.

"The Constitution and laws of the US and the states establish procedures for carrying out elections, and for resolving disputes over the outcome of elections. ... I do not see the US military as part of this process," Milley said in a letter released on Friday responding to questions from two members of the House Armed Services Committee.

"In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. Military," Milley added.

Milley's answers came in response to questions from Democratic Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey following a July hearing of the Armed Services Committee

The idea of having the military settle a disputed election has been floated in recent months by former Vice President Joe Biden and two high-profile retired officers who called on Milley to step in should President Donald Trump refuse to leave office if he is defeated in November.

This story is breaking and will be updated.

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