Pentagon, White House mobilize defense of Milley amid criticism over China calls

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, who worked alongside Milley in the Trump administration, also spoke out in Milley’s defense, and Milley’s spokesman released a statement asserting that Milley had acted propenrly.

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Current and former defense officials pushed back Wednesday on the notion that Milley was out of line, saying his calls to his Chinese counterpart were conducted under protocols similar to other high-level engagements by the Joint Chiefs chairman and in consultation with civilians at the Defense Department, implicitly rejecting criticism that Milley acted in secret.

There were 15 people on both videoconference calls Milley held with his Chinese counterpart, one on October 30 and another on January 8 — including a representative from the State Department, according to one defense official. The read-out and notes from the calls were shared with the intelligence community and the interagency, the official said.

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