Army officer alleges reprisal for his account of Capitol riot response

The Associated Press reported on February 26, 2021 that an Army officer who had spoken anonymously to the press about his experience commanding D.C. National Guard forces during the Capitol insurrection in January of 2021 has now alleged that he is being retaliated against for his comments. The officer, Maj. Adam DeMarco, stated that he is being removed from his position at the Pentagon and that his service has also been questioned, leading him to believe that it is purely in response to his testimony. The Army is denying the allegations and said that the officer’s reassignment was a “standard personnel move.” However, the incidents surrounding DeMarco raise concerns about the impact of speaking out in the military, and underscore the importance of whistleblower protections for the military.