Colonel Earl Matthews Exposes Military Failures—and Why the Senate Should Confirm Him
On January 6, 2021, as chaos unfolded at the U.S. Capitol, help from the D.C. National Guard was delayed for over three hours. On April 17, 2024, retired Colonel Earl Matthews stood before Congress and gave a clear and courageous account of why.
His testimony wasn’t just informative—it was damning. He named names, exposed contradictions, and challenged the official narrative of the military’s response to the riot. And in doing so, he demonstrated the kind of moral clarity and leadership that our institutions desperately need.
The Heart of the Hearing
Matthews testified that senior military leaders—most notably General Charles Flynn and Lt. General Walter Piatt—delayed authorizing National Guard deployment due to concerns about “optics.” As the top legal officer for the D.C. Guard that day, Matthews witnessed this firsthand.
“People were dying,” he told the committee. “And they were worried about how it would look.”
He accused both Flynn and Piatt of making false or misleading statements to Congress in prior hearings, and described their actions as “deliberate and deceptive.”
Why the Senate Should Confirm Colonel Matthews
Matthews has been nominated to serve as General Counsel of the DoD requiring Senate confirmation. His bravery in coming forward—when few others were willing to speak publicly—should be seen as a qualification, not a liability.
By confirming him, the Senate would send a powerful message: that telling the truth under oath matters. That accountability is not optional. That military leaders who speak out against institutional failure will be respected and protected.
His testimony was not only well-documented but grounded in firsthand experience. He brought clarity, honesty, and a sense of duty to a moment in history still shrouded in confusion, lies and spin.
Key Takeaways from His Testimony
3-hour delay: Despite urgent pleas from Capitol Police, the Guard wasn’t deployed until well after the situation had spiraled out of control.
Contradictory accounts: Matthews presented evidence that senior military officials misled both Congress and the public about their actions on January 6.
Political considerations: He implied that fear of political blowback or perception—rather than operational constraints—drove the inaction.
Unusual command changes: Days before the riot, the Pentagon implemented a policy requiring Secretary of the Army approval for D.C. Guard action, further complicating response efforts.
A Vote for Integrity
Colonel Matthews could have stayed quiet. Many others did. But instead, he came forward with the truth. That kind of courage—especially when directed at people above you in the chain of command—should be honored.
In a time of institutional distrust, confirming Matthews would be a signal that integrity still matters in American governance. The Senate should confirm him to serve as the General Counsel of the Department of Defense — not just for what he exposed about January 6, but for what he stands for today.
Full hearing breakdown and videos via this thread:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1780964253832237070.html.
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