STATE POLICE AND THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD.
WE IMMEDIATELY OFFERED SUPPORT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHICH SUBMITTED A DIRECT REQUEST FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT THROUGH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT.
I DIRECTED COLONEL JONES, WHO IMMEDIATELY MOBILIZED OUR ENTIRE MOBILE FIELD FORCE OF 200 SPECIALLY TRAINED MARYLAND STATE POLICE TROOPERS TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR OUR NATION'S
CAPITAL.
I ALSO INSTRUCTED GENERAL GOWEN TO IMMEDIATELY CALL UP THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD.
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT MEETING WITH OUR SECURITY TEAM, I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STENY HOYER WHO WAS CALLING ME SAYING THAT HE AND SPEAKER PELOSI AND SENATOR
SCHUMER WE ALL TOGETHER IN AN UNDISCLOSED BUNKER.
THEY HAD BEEN SPIRITED OFF TO UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.
THAT THE U.S. CAPITOL POLICE WAS OVERWHELMED, THAT THERE WAS NO FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE, AND THAT THE LEADERS OF CONGRESS WERE PLEADING WITH ME AS THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND
FOR ASSISTANCE FROM MARYLAND'S NATIONAL GUARD AND STATE POLICE.
I INFORMED SPEAKER HOYER AND THE OTHER LEADERS A FORCE OF SPECIALLY TRAINED RIOT POLICE EQUIPPED TO RESPOND TO CIVIL DISTURBANCES ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF ALLIED AND LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WERE ALREADY EN ROUTE TO THE CAPITOL.
I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I AUTHORIZED THE MOBILIZATION OF THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD AND THAT I WAS READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY THEM TO THE CAPITOL.
HOWEVER, WE WERE REPEATEDLY DENIED APPROVAL TO DO SO.
UNDER FEDERAL LAW, THE MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE GUARD, AND WE MUST RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO
SEND OUR MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD ACROSS THE BORDER INTO THE FEDERAL CITY, INTO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
SO WE HAD A LITTLE BACK AND FORTH, TRYING TO GET THAT AUTHORIZATION.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE DID NOT HESITATE.
WE CONTINUED TO MOBILIZE AND GET READY SO IF AND WHEN WE GOT THAT APPROVAL WE COULD IMMEDIATELY MOVE.
APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, I GOT A CALL ON MY CELL PHONE FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, RYAN MCCARTHY, WHO GAVE US THE AUTHORITY THAT WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE CITY.
THE INITIAL CONTINGENT OF MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS WERE THE FIRST TO ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON FROM OUT OF STATE.
I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE D.C.
ARMORY WHERE I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH AND THANK SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR THEIR SERVICE ON THIS IMPORTANT MISSION TO PROTECT OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
I THANKED THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AND I SAID THIS ASSAULT ON OUR DEMOCRACY CANNOT STAND.
I JUST WANT TO ASSURE ALL AMERICANS THAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO CONTINUE TO SECURE THE CORE O OUR NATION'S CAPITAL AND TO
ENSURE THE PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER.
TODAY, WE ARE EXTENDING THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD'S MISSION IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THROUGH THE INAUGURATION AND THE END OF THE MONTH.
AS PART OF THE COORDINATED EFFORT WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE'S MOBILE FIELD FORCE TEAM PROVIDED SECURITY SUPPORT TO RESTORE THE PEACE AT
THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING LAST NIGHT AND ALSO ASSISTED THE METROPOLITAN POLICE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF CURFEW VIOLATIONS.
MARYLAND STATE POLICE COMMANDERS ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH D.C. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AND WE'VE SHURD THEM WE WILL CONTINUE TO -- WE'VE SURED THEM WE WILL CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THEM ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE THEY REQUIRE.
I SPOKE TO MAY BOUZER LAST NIGHT -- BOWSER LAST NIGHT AND OFFERED HER SUPPORT IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD.
IN ADDITION, MARYLAND STATE POLICE, AS WELL AS THE CAPITOL POLICE, SOME OF WHICH YOU SEE AROUND HERE, HAD INCREASED SECURITY AROUND THE MARYLAND STATE HOUSE COMPLEX.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AROUND CAPITOLS AND GOVERNORS' MANSIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
IT IS SOMEWHAT FITTING THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS SHAMEFUL ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY FROM THIS HISTORIC STATE HOUSE, WHICH IS THE VERY FIRST PEACETIME CAPITOL OF THE UNITED STATES.
AFTER ALL, IT WAS RIGHT HERE THAT THE PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER WAS BORN 236 YEARS AGO AFTER LEADING THE COLONIES TO VICTORY IN THE REVOLUTIONA WAR.
GENERAL WASHINGTON RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY RIGHT HERE, RIGHT THERE IN OUR OLD SENATE CHAMBER AT THE TIME THE IDEA THAT A
MILITARY LEADER WOULD VOLUNTARY TRANSFER POWER TO THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES WAS VIRTUALLY UNTHINKABLE.
AND WAS WITHOUT PRECEDENT IN HUMA HISTORY.
BUT THIS SELFLESS ACT SECURED OUR NATION'S FUTURE AS A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, AND AS THE LEADER OF THE FRE WORLD.
GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES, THEIR FORTUNES AND SACRED HONOR SO THAT THE MIRACLE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT AND THE ORDERLY TRANSITION OF POWER COULD BECOM
COMMONPLACE.
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THIS SACRED TRADITION HAS COME UNDER ATTACK FROM O OWN PRESIDENT, WHO HAS CHOSEN TO FAN THE FLAMES OF HATE AND MISLEAD MILLIONS OF VOTERS THROUGH LIES AND
CONSPIRACY THEORIES RATHER THAN FACE THE REALITY OF HIS OWN DEFEAT.
I GREW UP IN THE SHADOW O THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL.
I PROUDLY STOOD BY MY FATHER'S SIDE AT AGE 12 ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE CHAMBER AS WE BOTH TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, AN OATH TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ABANDONED THIS SACRED OATH.
WHAT WE SAW IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL WAS NOT JUST AN ATTACK ON THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES OR HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT WAS AN ATTACK ON THE RULE OF LAW, THE
FOUNDATIONS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT AND WHO WE ARE A AMERICANS.
THE MOB MAY HAVE SHATTERED GLASS, BUT THE DID NOT AND THEY WILL NOT SHATTER OUR DEMOCRACY.
FR GOVERNORS AND SECRETARIES OF STATE AND THE JUDICIARY AND THE CONGRESS, OUR INSTITUTIONS HAVE HELD FIRM IN THE FACE OF THIS ATTEMPT INSURRECTION, BUT WE REMAIN AT FRAGILE MOMENT.
AND EACH OF US, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HOLD ELECTED OFFICE, HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE.
WE CAN SHOW THOSE WHO FEEL FORGOTTEN THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER SOLUTIONS TO THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT FACE US OR WE CAN CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE THI TOXIC POLITICS, RABID TRIBALISM
AND HATRED.
WE CAN EITHER FACE THE TRUTH OR BE DESTROYED BY LIES.
WE CAN EITHE DISSEND INTO CHAOS OR RANKER OR WE CAN RISE ABOVE AND MEET THIS TEST WITH REAL COLONEL AND PATRIOTISM -- COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM.
I CAN NEV FATHOM A DAY LIKE YESTERDAY IN AMERICA, BUT I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT, AND NEITHER SHOULD ANY AMERICA I THINK I SPEAK FOR MANY AMERICANS WHEN I SAY, ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH OF THE LIES.
ENOUGH OF THE HATE.
ENOUGH OF THE TOT DYSFUNCTION.
JUST ENOUG AND I PROMISE TO DO EVERYTHING MY POWER TO REBUILD TRUST IN WHAT MAKES THIS NATIO GREAT.
TO HEAL OLD WOUNDS RATHER THAN INFLAME THEM, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT DEMOCRACY, THAT THE PEOPLE ALWAYS PREVAIL.
MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF MARYLAND AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE SO QUESTIONS.
REPORTER: GOVERNOR, WHAT DID THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SAY?
IN DENYING AUTHORIZATION TO THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD, WHAT WAS THE REASON GIVEN?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: NONE OF US REALLY SPOKE TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, BUT WE WERE REPEATEDLY -- GENERAL GOWEN WAS REPEATEDLY BEING TOLD BY THE NATIONAL GUARD AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AUTHORIZATION.
I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE PHONE WITH LEAD HOYER, WHO WAS PLEADING TO US TO SEND THE GUARD, HE WAS YELLING ACROSS THE ROOM TO SCHUMER, WHO -- AND THEY WERE BACK AND FORTH SAYING, WE DO
HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION.
AND I'M SAYING, I'M TELLING YOU, WE DO NOT HAVE T AUTHORIZATION.
AND SO WE HAD MULTIPLE TIMES, THE GENER WAS -- WE'RE READY.
DON'T HAVE AUTHORIZATION.
AND THEN I GET A CALL AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER OUT OF THE BLUE, NOT FROM THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, NOT THROUGH WHAT WOULD BE NORMAL CHANNELS, YOU KNOW, I GOT A NUMBER I DON'T RECOGNIZE
ON M PHONE.
I PICK IT UP ANYWAY.
LARRY HOGAN.
IT'S LIKE THIS RYAN MCCARTHY, SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, GOVERNOR.
CAN YOU COME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE?
IT WAS LIKE, YEAH, WE'VE BEEN WAITING.
WE'RE READY.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT WAS GOING ON THE OTHER END, IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION IN THE MEDIA.
I AM NOT PRIVY WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE PENTAGON.
REPORTER: SHOULD THE DEPARTMENT RESIGN?
SHOULD WE INVOKE THE 25th AMENDMENT?
WHERE ARE WE AT IN THIS DISCUSSION?
COMBOIP GOVERNOR HOGAN: LOOK, HERE'S WHERE I AM.
I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT AMERICA WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF THE PRESIDENT WOULD RESIGN OR BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
IF MIKE PENCE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WOULD CONDUCT A PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER OVER THE NEXT 13 DAYS UNTIL PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SWORN IN.
HOW THE DETAILS OF -- IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR HOW THAT SHOULD HAPPEN, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I THINK VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, WHO'S A FRIEND, AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR.
I THINK HE DID THE RIGHT THING.
STOOD UP FOR THE RULE O LAW.
STOOD UP TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION.
THERE IS SPECULATION HE WAS INVOLVED IN FINALLY MAKING THE DECISION ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD.
I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WE NEED LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.
AND WE NEED TO STOP ALL OF THI CRAZINESS.
REPORTER: GOVERNOR, NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND MARYLAND STATE TROOPERS, HOW MANY ARE IN RIGHT NOW?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: WE HAVE 500 MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE ABOUT 200 MARYLAND STATE POLICE AND OTHER ALLIED AGENCIES, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY NOW.
THEY FINISHED THEIR MISSION LAST NIGHT SUCCESSFULLY.
AND THEY'RE COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR -- THEY'RE STILL MOBILIZED AND STILL READY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE THE METROPOLITAN POLICE OR THE CAPITOL POLICE REQUESTS.
THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE NEXT MISSION.
THEY'RE CALLED UP AND MOBILIZED BUT NOT TAKING DIRECT ACTION RIGHT NOW AS W SPEAK.
REPORTER: GOVERNOR, YOU SAID IT TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TOOK THE COMPLARNS.
-- CLEARANCE.
HOW MUCH SOONER HAD THE GUARD ARRIVED AT THE CAPITOL IF THEY GOT AUTHORIZATION THE FIRST TIME?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: IT'S HARD TO SAY.
IT'S HARD TO RAMP UP.
IN DISCUSSION WITH GENERAL GOWEN, THE NATIONAL GUARD, THEY HAVE TO GET READY.
MY DECISION, ALONG WITH OUR SECURITY TEAM AND THE GENERAL WAS, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT TO GET THE AUTHORIZATION AND THEN GET PEOPLE READY.
SO I'M GOING TO AUTHORIZE THEM.
SO YOU CALL THEM -- CALL THEM UP, GET THEM MOBILIZED.
AND THEN WE'LL BE CLOSER TO BE IN THE CITY WHEN WE GET THE CALL.
IT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER.
WE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO ARRIVE.
MARYLAND WAS THE VERY FIRST GUARD TO SHOW UP.
REPORTER: WHAT DID THE GUARD DO WHEN THE GUARD MEMBE ARRIVED?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: WE PROTECTED THE U.S. CAPITOL.
REPORTER: DOES THIS CHANGE THE GUARD'S ROLE -- GOVERNOR HOGAN: AND THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
REPORTER: DOES THIS CHANGE THE ROLE OF VACCINE DEPLOYMENT?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: NO.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT TEAMS OF PEOPLE.
IT IRONIC BUT WE HAVE BEEN F FOCUSED LIKE A LASER O VACCINES.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF GUARD IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY TO ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR VACCINES.
YESTERDAY, WE WERE IN CHARLES COUNTY.
WE'RE STILL UTILIZING THE GUARD FOR OTHER MISSIONS, BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT GROUP OF GUARD THAT WE HAD TO SEND DOWN AND HELP PROTECT THE NATION CAPITOL.
REPORTER: GOVERNOR, GIVEN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBING TO US, THERE WAS NO TREE PLANTING BEFORE YESTERDAY OR A SORT OF EVENTUALLITIES WITH THE STATE?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL THE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND ALL OF OUR STATE AGENCIES FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT THE INAUGURATION, WHICH WE
WE'RE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN, BUT THIS PARTICULAR MISSION YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE DYSFUNCTIONAL.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF OUR TEAM KNOWS EXACTLY WHY THE U.S.
CAPITOL WAS NOT PROTECTED A HOW THIS TREACHEROUS MOB WAS ABLE TO BRE THROUGH.
ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS WHAT WE DID IMMEDIATELY TO TRY TO HELP STOP THE SITUATION.
>> LAST QUESTION.
REPORTER: HAVE YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS -- THE INAUGURATION IS IN 13 DAYS.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT MARYLAND'S INVOLVEMENT?
I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION IS, DO YOU THINK THEY CAN SAFELY HOLD AN INAUGURATION IN 13 DAYS?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: I KNOW THAT ALL -- OUR ENTIRE TEAM AND EVERY AGENCY IS TALKING TO EVERY FEDERAL AGENCY, HAS BEEN FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, AS WE DO EVERY INAUGURATION, AND I'M SURE
EVERYBODY'S CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO DO IT SAFELY.
I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PAST DAY OR SO ON INAUGURAL PLANNING, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE CONTINUING TO PROCEED AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY DO IT IN A SAFE
WAY.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IN ADDITION TO US, I THINK WE HAVE FIVE OTHER STATES OF NATIONAL GUARD, 6,000 GUARD MEMBERS ARE NOW IN THE CITY AND THEY ARE ALL PLANNING TO BE AVAILABLE THROUGH
TH INAUGURATION.
REPORTER: GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS NEXT WEEK.
GOVERNOR HOGAN: I DOES.
REPORTER: WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES GOING INTO THAT?
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: SURE.
WE ACTUALLY HAD HOPED TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT TODAY.
IT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND, OF COURSE, WE GOT MORE DISTRACTED ON MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.
NEXT WEEK, I THINK WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING.
OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE SESSION IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS AND THE RECOVERY OF OUR ECONOMY.
WE HAD A GREAT PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION YESTERDAY BEFORE ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT TO TALK ABOUT.
I THINK WE ALL SHARE THE SAME DESIRE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES ARE, YOU KNOW, STRUGGLING MARYLANDERS, STRUGGLING BUSINESSES, HELPING PEOPLE GET THE ASSISTANCE THEY
NEED, PROVIDING MORE ECONOMIC RELIEF, AND CONTINUING TO, YOU KNOW, FIGHT THE VIRUS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO