>>> IT WAS A PEACEFUL PROTEST.
>> POLICE BRUTALITY.
>> THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.
>> THEY STARTED SHOOTING EVERYWHERE.
>> WHY YOU START SHOOTING AT US?
>> YOU ALL ARE HIDING?
>> ONLY WAY WE CAN GET JUSTICE IS TO STAY ALIVE.
>> IF THE GOVERNMENT PAID TO YOU DISRUPT PROTESTS AGAIN, WOULD
YOU DO IT?
>> YES.
>> JUST DAYS AFTER LOSING AN ELECTION, HE WAS CALLING
ILLEGITIMATE, TRUMP DECAPITATED THE PENTAGON LEADERSHIP.
>> THE PEOPLE THAT HE INSTALLED WERE CLEARLY POLITICAL PEOPLE.
>> CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THIS LOOKS A LITTLE SKETCHY?
>> WE'VE GOT A PRESIDENT WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE RULE OF
LAW.
>> DID YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF YOU GOT AN ORDER
THAT YOU WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE WANT JUSTICE!
[ GUNFIRE ]
>> EVERYONE STAY DOWN, SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN!
WE DON'T HAVE WEAPONS. WE DON'T HAVE WEAPONS.
WE DON'T HAVE WEAPONS AND THEY'RE SHOOTING AT US.
>> LAST YEAR ON OCTOBER 20th, DEMONSTRATORS IN NIGERIA WERE
GUNNED DOWN AT ONE OF THE LARGEST AND DEADLIEST PROTESTS
IN A GENERATION. THEY WERE CALLING FOR THE
DISBANDING OF A FEDERAL POLICE UNIT CALLED SARS, THE SPECIAL
ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD.
>> LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I DIED FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM, FOR
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
>> SARS WAS CREATED DECADES AGO IN RESPONSE TO A RISE IN THEFT
AND VIOLENT CRIMES, BUT QUICKLY BECAME A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE.
NOTORIOUS FOR THE EXTORSION, TORTURE, RAPE, KIDNAPPING AND
MURDER NIGERIAN CITIZENS, SARS IS A SYMPTOM OF A CORRUPT
GOVERNMENT RULING OVER A COUNTRY PLAGUED BY POVERTY.
>> POLICE BRUTALITY!
>> THE MOVEMENT TO END SARS STARTED IN 2017 AMONG THE YOUTH
OF NIGERIA AND MASS PROTESTS ERUPTED LAST FALL AS A GROWING
RECKONING OF ABUSES OF POWER GREW ACROSS THE WORLD.
>> WE ARE ASKING FOR A COMPLETE ABOLITION.
>> WE DON'T WANT IT.
>> PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN BACKED BY HUGELY POPULAR ARTISTS LIKE A
LAWYER TURNED RAPPER WHOSE LYRICS TELL ABOUT POLICE ABUSE
HEAD ON.
HE JUST DROPPED, BEST TO SHOOT
THEM IN JOHNNY WERE THIS INNOCENT, NEW
IN TOWN THEY'RE KILLING FOR NO JUST
CAUSE NOBODY FEET COME OFF A HOUSE
>> SO TALK TO ME WITH WHAT IT WAS LIKE FROM THE BEGINNING.
>> IT'S A SIMPLE CAUSE THAT RESONATED WITH EVERYONE, END
POLICE BRUTALITY. IT WAS A REACTION, LIKE SOMEBODY
SHOUTED FROM SOMEWHERE, YO, ENOUGH IT ENOUGH!
AND EVERYONE IN THE ROOM HEARD THAT SHOUT AND THEY LIKE, YEAH,
ACTUALLY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT. THE PROTEST MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT
THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA.
>> YES.
>> WHAT MAKES THIS GENERATION OF PROTEST ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE
PROTESTS OF YOUR FOREFATHERS?
>> I TELL YOU WHAT MAKES THIS ONE DIFFERENT, NO ONE WAS
LEADING. WE HAVE TREK, THE INTERNET, WE
HAVE THESE TOOLS THAT ARE OUR ADVANTAGE, LIKE A CENTER POINT,
MEETING GROUND FOR EVERYONE. WE KNOW WHERE TO GET
INFORMATION. I DON'T THINK NIGERIA HAS EVER
SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
>> WHAT BEGAN AS A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION BECAME KNOWN AS
THE MASSACRE, STARTED AN ENTIRE MOVEMENT.
DUE TO THE VIOLENT CRACKDOWN, MANY DEMONSTRATORS WERE FORCED
UNDERGROUND.
>> PROTESTERS WHO MANAGED WHO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE AFTER THE
LEKKE TOLLGATE SHOOTING ARE WORRYING THEY'D BE TARGETED BY
SECURITY FORCES FOR SPEAKING OUT ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO A SAFE HOUSE TO MEET PROTESTERS WERE WHO WERE
BEATEN AND SHOT AND NOW IN HIDING.
>> FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, SARAH IBRAHIM AND A HANDFUL OF
OTHER PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN ON THE RUN MOVING FROM ONE
SAFEHOUSE TO THE NEXT AS THEY GATHER EVIDENCE OF WHAT THEY SAY
SHOW THE GOVERNMENT'S VIOLENT RESPONSE TO THE TOLLGATE
PROTEST. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO MOVE FROM
ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER?
>> NOT OOZY. BAGS EVERYWHERE BECAUSE WE NEED
TO LEAVE THIS PLACE TODAY. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET JUSTICE
FOR THOSE THAT DIED IS TO STAY SAFE AND STAY ALIVE.
>> IF I DON'T COME BACK ALIVE, I LOVE YOU GUYS.
>> THESE CELL PHONE VIDEOS ARE IMAGES THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT
DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE. MANY OF THE PROTESTERS WHO
RECORDED THEM HAVE HAD TO FLEE THE COUNTRY.
SOME ARE NOW DEAD.
>> THEY'RE SHOOTING AT US WITH GUNS.
>> TOLLGATE IT'S NEVER BEEN LIKE THAT.
>> INITIALLY WHEN WE HEARD THE SHOOTING THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW
IT WAS THE NIGERIAN MILITARY. THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.
WE JUST HEARD GUNSHOTS.
>> AT FIRST, WE THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WERE HOODLUMS, THEN WE
NOTICED THEY WERE MILITARY, THEY ARE SHOOTING SO THEY KEPT
ADVANCING AND ADVANCING UNTIL THEY GOT TO US, CLOSE US IN.
[ GUNFIRE ]
>> THEY STARTED SHOOTING EVERYWHERE, AND NEXT THING, I
SAW THE MILITARY MAN FACE ME, SHOT AT ME, SHOT ME ON MY CHEST.
>> THE SHOT CAME OUT FROM THE BACK.
>> DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO DIE THAT NIGHT?
>> I THOUGHT EVERYBODY SAID THIS IS A MIRACLE, SOMEBODY WAS SHOT
IN THE CHEST AND THE BULLET FROM THE BACK, AND STILL ALIVE.
>> WE NEED AMBULANCE, WE NEED AMBULANCE, WE NEED AMBULANCE.
PLEASE, PUT PRESSURE. DON'T LET HER SLEEP.
DON'T LET HER CLOSE HER EYES.
>> A LOT OF INJURIES. IT WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
I TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE AT THE POINT SOMEONE IN
FRONT OF ME WAS SHOT AND I TRIED CARRYING THE PERSON, I TRIED
CARRYING THE PERSON AND THE BLOOD FROM THE PERSON, I COULD
NOT, I JUST LEFT HIM.
>> YOU EVEN PLAYED DEAD AT THE PROTEST.
>> YES. I WAS SURROUNDED BY EIGHT
POLICEMEN EIGHT, HITTING ME WITH THE AK-47.
>> POLICE, POLICE ARE SHOOTING.
>> WHEN I FELL DOWN, I STOPPED MOVING.
THAT WAS WHEN THEY LEFT ME AND STARTED SHOOTING AT OTHER
PROTESTERS THAT WERE TRYING TO RUN AWAY.
>> BROKEN ON MY HEAD, BRUISE EVERYWHERE, WITHOUT DOING
ANYTHING.
>> IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED THE GOVERNMENT FLIP-FLOPPED ON
ITS RESPONSE TO LEKKI TOLL. THE MILITARY FIRST SAID THEY
WERE NEVER THERE AND ADMITTED THEY RESPONDED BUT DIDN'T SHOOT
AT PROTESTERS.
>> EVERY EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE WORST CASE OF MASSACRE WITH
BLOOD.
>> YOU MENTIONED CRAWLING OVER BODIES SEEING PEOPLE BLEEDING,
TRYING TO HELP THEM, AND YET YOU HAVE THE NIGH
HAVE THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT DENY SHOOTING INTO THE CROWD.
HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
>> WE PICKED BULLETS RIGHT THERE THAT DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
>> EACH ONE OF THOSE --
>> ALL THESE ARE BULLETS, TRACED TO THE NIGERIAN ARMY.
AND I JUST WANT THEM TO COME OUT AND TELL US THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED THAT DAY. THIS ONE IS STILL LIVE.
THIS IS STILL A LIVE BULLET. HERE.
>> YES, IT IS ACTUALLY, YES, THAT'S A LIVE BULLET.
>> SO WHY WOULD YOU COME OUT, SHOOT AT PEOPLE, AND THEN YOU
COME BACK SAYING IT WAS BLOODNESS AND BODILESS.
>> THE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS ADMITTED TO TWO DEATHS BUT
WITNESSES WE SPOKE TO CLAIM THE DEATH TOLL IS FAR GREATER.
HER SON LEKON IS ONE OF 12 PROTERSERS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
SAYS WERE KILLED BY SECURITY FORCES.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS CLAIMED THAT THINGS LIKE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
THAT NIGHT. [ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
NEW FINDINGS HAVE EMERGED THAT SUGGEST THE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTED
TO DISMANTLE THE END SARS MOVEMENT FROM WITHIN.
SOURCES WE'VE SPOKEN TO SAY CRIMINAL GANGS WERE EMPLOYED TO
INFILTRATE PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND CAUSE CHAOS.
WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO HIDE YOUR FACE FOR THIS INTERVIEW?
>> FOR MY LIFE.
>> WHO WOULD GIVE YOU PROBLEMS IF YOU SHOWED YOUR FACE?
>> THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, THEY CAN COME AT ANY TIME AND THERE'S
NOTHING I CAN DO.
>> DID THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT PAY YOU TO DISRUPT THE END SARS
PROTEST?
>> ACCORDING TO WHAT MY FRIEND TOLD ME, THEY GIVE ME THE MONEY,
WE WANT TO END THE PROTEST.
SO PEOPLE THAT WE BEAT WITH STICK.
>> SO YOU WERE TOLD TO THROW ROCKS, BOTTLES AND STICKS AND TO
BEAT PEOPLE TO SCATTER PROTESTERS?
>> YES. AND PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE US,
THEY WERE SCARED.
>> HOW MUCH DID YOU GET PAID TO DISRUPT THE PROTESTS?
>> 20,000.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT WHEN THEY
DENY THAT THEY PAID ANYONE TO DO WHAT YOU ALL DID?
>> THEY CAN'T DENY. WHY THEY SEND UP?
>> THE GOVERNMENT PAID YOU MONEY TO DISRUPT PROTESTS AGAIN, WOULD
YOU DO IT?
>> AS NIGERIA, THE ECONOMY HAS NOT CHANGED.
I KNOW THE PROTESTS ARE AGAINST ME BUT I GOT FAMILY I'M FEED SO
LONG I CAN'T JUST LEAVE THEM.
>> YOU'D DO IT?
>> YES. IN RESPONSE TO ONE OF THE
PROTESTERS CORE DEMANDS DURING THE UNPRECEDENTED NATIONWIDE
DEMONSTRATIONS THE GOVERNMENT CREATED JUDICIAL PANELS TO
INVESTIGATE ACCOUNTS OF POLICE BRUTALITY.
>> THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ANY FRIEND
ASSISTED THESE PEOPLE WHO CARRIED OUT THE KIDNAPPING.
>> WE HAD VICTIMS FOR POLICE ABUSE IN NIGERIA, THE PANEL CAN
ONLY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND BECAUSE OF THAT, A LOT OF
NIGERIAN CITIZENS THINK THIS IS TO PACIFY TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF THE
STREET BEFORE THE VICTIMS THAT ARE TESTIFYING THIS MAY BE THE
CLOSEST THING THEY COME TO JUSTICE.
>> IN OCTOBER 2020 A CASE OF ATTACK ON THE POLICE STATION WAS
REPORTED.
>> FELICIA OKPARTE ACCUSED THE POLICE OF BEATING AND DETAINING
HER.
>> YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO
ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED YOU, TRUE OR FALSE?
>> YES, I THINK SO. I'M SORRY, I WON'T GIVE YOU A
YES ANSWER.
>> FELICIA SAYS SHE CAN PROVE HER ASSAULT BY POLICE POINTING
TO VIDEO OF THE ENCOUNTER. IN IT SHE CAN BE SEEN DRAGGED
ACROSS THE STREET BY OFFICERS.
>> I TOLD YOU I CANNOT RECOGNIZE ALL THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE WHO
ASSAULTED ME. I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE INSIDE THE POLICE STATION.
ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ORDERED ME TO TAKE OFF MY CLOTHES IN THE
PRESENCE OF MEN INSIDE THERE.
>> ARE YOU STATING THAT YOU DID NOT KNOW YOU WERE UNDER ARREST?
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS BEATEN AND ARRESTED.
>> I
>> YOU STILL WANT TO STAND ON THAT?
>> DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION TOWARDS JUSTICE?
>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT I JUST
WANTED TO BE OUT THERE, THAT I TRIED MY BEST TO SHOW THAT
JUSTICE HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT. IF I DON'T MAKE RIGHTS WITH MY
VOICE BEING HEARD, THAT MEANS MY DAUGHTER WILL SUFFER THE SAME
FATE.
>> ALTHOUGH THERE'S NO END IN SIGHT, THIS MOVEMENT TO END
POLICE BRUTALITY EMPOWERED A NEW GENERATION OF NIGERIANS TO STAND
UP AND FIGHT FOR GOVERNMENT REFORM, EVEN IF IT MEANS RISKING
DEATH. WHERE DO YOU FIND THE COURAGE TO
DO THIS, KNOWING THAT YOU'RE RIS BEING
BEI ING BEI
INGKING YOUR LIFE?
>> EVERY DAY IN NIGER JA IS A RISK.
A LOT OF VICTIMS ARE THERE BUT THEY CAN'T SPEAK UP.
I JUST WANT THERE TO BE A REFORM AND WHEN I SEE A POLICEMAN IN
NIGERIA I DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID.
I DON'T WANT CHILDREN BORN TO GROW INTO THAT KIND OF SOCIETY
WHERE THEY ARE SCARED OF ANOTHER PERSON BECAUSE OF THE UNIFORM.
>> WHAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 6th HAS BEEN CALLED A
LOT OF THINGS, A RIOT, AN INSURRECTION
INSURREC INSURRECTION, AN ACT OF DOMESTIC
TERROR BUT WHAT OF THE SCARIEST ASPECTS OF THE SCENES WASN'T THE
VIOLENCE THAT TOOK PLACE THAT DAY.
IT'S HOW MUCH WORSE THINGS COULD HAVE GONE.
>> WE'RE JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AWAY FROM WHAT HAPPENED, WE FIND
OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT REALLY WENT ON AND HOW CLOSE WERE WE TO THAT
BRINK. I THINK WE'LL FIND OUT WE WERE
CLOSER THAN MAYBE WE UNDERSTAND WE WERE.
>> CHUCK HAGEL IS A REPUBLICAN WHO SERVED THE SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA. HE THINKS WHAT AMERICA WITNESSED
IN JANUARY WAS AS CLOSE AS THIS COUNTRY'S COME IN CENTURIES TO A
C COUNTRY'S COME IN CENTURIES TO A
COUP THANKS TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO POLL
TUCKIZE THE PENTAGON.
>> THE PEOPLE THAT HE INSTALLED IN HIGH LEVEL RESPONSIBLE
POLICY-MAKING DECISIONS, THEY WERE CLEARLY POLITICAL PEOPLE,
MANY WERE UNQUALIFIED TO BE THERE.
CLEARLY IT WAS MEANT FOR THIS PRESIDENT TO RUN THE PENTAGON AS
A POLITICAL ARM.
>> THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE TO YOU?
>> NOT ONLY WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BUT THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING ON.
NATIONAL SECURITY IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
IT NEVER HAS BEEN. IT CAN'T BE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT DIFFERENCES IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
>> THE PRESIDENT IS ALWAYS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, BUT IT'S THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THAT EFFECTIVELY RUNS THE MILITARY.
WHILE DOD LEADERSHIP IS APPOINTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE,
THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN ROOM FOR PARTISAN POLL TINGZ IN
OPERATIONAL MATTERS. HAGEL SAYS TRUMP BLURRED THOSE
LINES LIKE NO OTHER PRESIDENT BEFORE BUT ENCOUNTERED
PUSH-BACK.
>> THE OPTION SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS A MATTER OF LAST RESORT
AND ONLY IN THE MOST URGENT AND DIRE OF SITUATIONS.
>> I THINK TRUMP WAS BECOMING VERY FRUSTRATED THAT HE WAS NOT
BEING ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY FACILITATE THE POLITICIZATION OF
THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.
>> JUST DAYS AFTER LOSING AN ELECTION HE WAS CALLING
ILLEGITIMATE, TRUMP DECAPITATED THE PENTAGON.
>> THE SHAKEUP 70 DAYS BEFORE THE PRESIDENT IS SET TO LEAVE
OFFICE IS RAISING NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS.
>> AS WE'RE TOLD THE MILLER IT TIMES HIS REPLACEMENT WOULD THE
PRESIDENT'S "YES MAN" AND IF THAT HAPPENS, HE SAYS "GOD HELP
US."
>> CHRIS MILLER, A NAME FEW RECOGNIZED WAS APPOINTED ACTING
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WITH FORMER DEVIN NUNEZ AID CASH PATEL AS
HIS CHIEF OF STAFF.
>> I WAS CONCERNED LIKE MOST WHO WORKED AT THE PENTAGON AS TO
WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO NEXT. HE WAS BRINGING IN A NEW
SECRETARY, AND HE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF USING THE
MILITARY TO RE-RUN THE ELECTIONS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE MILITARY DOES.
>> ALARMED, HAGEL AND ALL LIVING FORMER SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE,
TEN OF THEM, MADE AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE.
SIGNED A LETTER SAYING IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNLAWFUL
USE OF THE MILITARY. CALLED OUT BY NAME BY ALL OF HIS
PREDECESSORS, CHRIS MILLER, THE MAN TRUMP PICKED TO RUN THE
PENTAGON IN SUCH CONTROVERSIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AGREED TO SIT
DOWN AND TELL HIS SIDE OF THE STORY.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN THAT WE WERE JUST SOME SORT OF
TRUMP HATCHET MEN COMING IN TO DO HEINOUS THINGS TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WHICH COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE
TRUTH
>> MILLER IS A CAREER MILITARY OFFICER AND SPECIAL FORCES
DEMANDER, TURNED COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL WHO
FIRST MET DONALD TRUMP IN THE SITUATION ROOM DURING THE RAID
THAT CALLED AL BAGHDADI. WHEN TRUMP OFFERED HIM THE TOP
JOB, MILLER UNDERSTOOD HIS MISSION AS ENDING THE WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN AND BRINGING TROOPS HOME FROM IRAQ AND SOMALIA BUT
MILITARY LEADERSHIP SEEMED WARY OF SOMETHING MORE.
>> WE DO NOT TAKE AN OATH TO A KING OR A QUEEN, A TYRANT OR
DICTATOR. WE DO NOT TAKE AN OATH TO AN
INDIVIDUAL.
>> SOUNDS ALMOST DIRECTED AT AWE, A FEW AFTER YOU COME IN AND
BASICALLY SAYING THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN INSTITUTION THAT
BECOMES POLITICIZED.
>> AN INSTITUTION I GAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MYSELF LIFE TO AND
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT I WAS GOING TO BRING DISCREDIT TO THE
ARMED FORCES.
>> DID YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF YOU GOT AN ORDER
THAT YOU WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THAT CROSSED YOUR MIND?
>> OH, OF COURSE, YEAH, I DID ALL MY NET ASSESSMENT AND
MISSION ANALYSIS AND ETHICAL, MORAL AND LEGAL RED LINES.
>> YOU DID?
>> YES, IT'S THE CONSTANT DRUM BEAT THAT'S GOING ON OF, YOU
KNOW, POTENTIAL ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, UNETHICAL ACTIVITIES.
I KNEW THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO CROSS ANY OF THOSE LINES AND IF
ASKED, I WOULD RESIGN.
>> BUT JANUARY 6th TOOK CONCERNS ABOUT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE
AROUND COMMAND AND CONTROL OF THE MILITARY TO AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT LEVEL.
>> IT WAS SUCH AN UNCERTAIN TIME.
I THINK EVERYONE WAS SCARED.
>> ADAM SOLSKI IS A FORMER CIA ATTORNEY AND NOW CONTRIBUTING
EDITOR OF "VANITY FAIR."
>> WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE RULE OF
LAW AND I THOUGHT THE ONLY WAY THEY EFFECTUATE SOMETHING REALLY
DARK --
>> A LONG SHOT REQUEST TO EMBED WITH THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
DURING HIS FINAL WEEK ON THE JOB.
>> BY THE TIME I SAW THE ITINERARY, IT COULD BE READ ONE
TWO OF WAYS, LIKE OH, THIS IS JUST HIS LAST TRIP, ACTING
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, OR WOW, THIS IS WHERE THE REVOLUTION
STARTS. WE WENT TO OAK RIDGE, WHERE THEY
ASSEMBLE AND DISMANTLE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, STRATCOM, COMMAND AND
CONTROL FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS. NORTH COM, SPACE COM, NORAD.
>> YOU WERE WITH THESE GUY AS THE PRESIDENT WAS IMPEACHED?
>> ON THE PLANE WITH THE MONITORS, SHOWING THE
IMPEACHMENT VOTE. I'M TRAVELING WITH THE GUY WHO
HAS ALL THE TOYS TO CARRY OUT A COUP AND YET HE DIDN'T.
>> LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A SHOUT OUT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF PATEL,
ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE, THANKS FOR COMING ALONG.
>> IF THE CHANGES AT THE PENTAGON WERE TRUMP'S LAST DITCH
ATTEMPT TO CLING ON TO POWER, IT'S THE TEAM THAT WAS INSTALLED
WITH CHRIS MILLER WHO WOULD KNOW BUT NOBODY'S HEARD MUCH FROM
THEM SO FAR. DESPITE ALL OF THE MEDIA
COVERAGE OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, ESPECIALLY THE LAST
FEW WEEKS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, WE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH
ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WENT ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
SO WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN CASH PATEL AGREED TO GIVE US AN
INTERVIEW. PATEL WAS IN TELLURIDE,
COLORADO, DETOXING AFTER ONE OF THE HIGHEST NATIONAL SECURITY
ROLES IN THE COUNTRY, DESCRIBED AS A TRUMP LOYALIST AND
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE REPUBLICAN EFFORT TO DEBUNK THE RUSSIA
INVESTIGATION.
>> WHEN CASH WAS INSTALLED AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO MILLER, I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT, WELL, THERE'S THE PUPPETMASTER.
>> HOW YOU'RE PERCEIVED IN THE MEDIA AT TIMES IS, I MEAN YOU'VE
BEEN CALLED A LOT OF NAMES. WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU THAT YOU
THINK PROVOKES THAT KIND OF A REACTION?
>> I DON'T KNOW. PERSONALLY, SERVING AS A PUBLIC
DEFENDER FOR SO MANY YEARS, ALL I TELL PEOPLE IS I'VE BEEN
CALLED FAR WORSE BY MUCH BETTER.
>> EVEN THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH HIS POLITICS RECOGNIZE HIS
HISTORIC RISE.
>> YOU ARE TALKING TO A BROWN GUY WHO IS AN INDIAN-AMERICAN
WHO IS THE FIRST INDIAN-AMERICAN CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE, THE FIRST MINORITY TO BE THE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY AT
THE OFFICER OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, HEAD OF
COUNTERTERRORISM IN ANY WHITE HOUSE.
I DIDN'T TAKE THE ROLES TO BE THE FIRST MINORITY TO DO IT BUT
IT'S PRETTY FRICKIN' COOL THAT I WAS.
>> THE TIMING OF WHEN YOU GUYS CAME IN, CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY
THERE WAS SOME EYEBROWS RAISED, GIVEN THE CONTEXTS, WHATEVER, A
FEW DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, THIS LOOKS A LITTLE SKETCHY.
>> YES, THAT'S FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO HAVE THEIR OPINION ON.
>> THE PRESIDENT IS CONTESTING THE RESULT.
>> UM-HUM.
>> CLAIMING VICTORY. I REPORTED ON SITUATIONS LIKE
THAT IN OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND IT DOESN'T USUALLY
END WELL.
>> SURE, THAT'S A POLITICAL LENS YOU'RE LOOKING THROUGH.
>> IT'S A HUMAN LENS, LIKE THAT'S WHAT HALF THE COUNTRY
WAS --
>> SURE, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT THE LENS I HAD THE ROLE OF
LOOKING THROUGH OF ANY COMMANDER IN CHIEF, ENTITLED TO HIS
CABINET AT THE TIME HE WANTS IT. BUT MY JOB WAS THE MISSION.
IT'S REALLY SIMPLE. WE HAD A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
TO RUN SO THAT'S WHAT WE WENT AND DID.
>> TAKE US BACK TO JANUARY 6th.
>> OKAY.
>> PRETTY INTENSE DAY. IT MUST HAVE CROSSED PEOPLE'S
MINDS THAT THERE COULD BE A SITUATION THAT WAS ALSO
UNPRECEDENTED IN TERMS OF WHAT THE ORDERS MIGHT BE FROM THE
WHITE HOUSE.
>> DIDN'T CROSS MINE, BECAUSE I HAD OPERATED UNDER THE NATIONAL
COMMAND AUTHORITY, AND I NEVER FOUND FAULT WITH THE CHAIN OF
COMMAND IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. IT WORKED THE WAY IT NEEDED TO
WORK WHEN IT NEEDED TO WORK.
>> BUT MILLER WAS CLEARLY UNEASY WITH HOW THINGS PLAYED OUT ON
JANUARY 6th. DID YOU LISTEN TO THE
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH IN THE MORNING?
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF IT WHEN YOU HEARD THE KINDS OF THINGS HE WAS
SAYING?
>> CONCERNING.
>> WHEN YOU HEARD HIM SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AND TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK, THAT WAS WHAT WAS
CONCERNING TO YOU?
>> SURE, YEAH. BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, THERE HAD
BEEN A LOT OF RHETORIC SPEWED OVER THE PREVIOUS BUNCH OF
YEARS.
>> BUT ON THIS DAY, MORE THAN ANY OTHER, WHEN THE VOTE IS
BEING CERTIFIED IN CONGRESS, THAT MUST HAVE SET ALARM BELLS
RINGING IN YOUR HEAD.
>> YES.
>> DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT
HAPPENED ON THE OF HAPPENED ON THE 6th?
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT SEEMS CAUSE AND EFFECT, YES.
THE QUESTION IS, WOULD ANYBODY HAVE MARCHED ON THE CAPITOL AND
OVERRUN THE CAPITOL WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH?
I THINK IT'S PRETTY MUCH DEFINITIVE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED, SO YES. THE QUESTION IS, DID HE KNOW
THAT HE WAS ENRAGING THE CROWD TO DO THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
>> THE DELAY FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD, WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO
THOSE THAT SAY, WELL, THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED QUICKER OR
COULD IT HAVE BEEN HANDLED BETTER?
>> IT COMES BACK TO UNDERSTANDING HOW THE MILITARY
WORKS. THIS ISN'T A VIDEO GAME.
IT'S NOT HALO. IT'S NOT BLACK OPS: CALL TO
DUTY.
>> WHO DID YOU SPEAK TO FROM THE WHITE HOUSE DURING THAT TIME?
DID YOU SPEAK TO THE PRESIDENT?
>> I DID NOT SPEAK TO THE PRESIDENT ON THE 6th.
>> DID YOU WORRY ABOUT CONNECTING THE KIND OF ORDER?
>> NO.
>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID?
>> SPECULATIVE.
>> YOU WERE THE GUY IN THE POSITION AND SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO
SAY ABOUT THAT MATTERS.
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY SITUATION WHERE THE ARMED FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES WOULD ABIDE BY AN ILLEGAL ORDER.
>> WHAT IF IT COMES FROM THE PRESIDENT?
>> IF IT'S ANTITHETICAL TO THE CONSTITUTION OR THE UNIFORM CODE
OF MILITARY JUSTICE, IT'S AN ILLEGAL ORDER AND YOU DON'T
FOLLOW IT.
>> SO IT'S KIND OF AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE FROM EACH SOLDIER?
>> IT'S MORE INSTITUTIONAL IN THAT REGARD.
I MEAN, TO HAVE A PERFECT STORM WHERE AN ORDER WAS GIVEN TO
EXECUTE A MILITARY COUP IS NOT POSSIBLE IN THE UNITED STATES
MILITARY RIGHT NOW.
>> AND THIS SEEMS LIKE FROM THE OUTSIDE CERTAINLY TO THE REST OF
THE WORLD TO BE AS CLOSE AS THIS COUNTRY HAS GOT.
>> I THINK THAT'S JUST COMPLETE HYPERBOLE.
>> WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE AWARE 1/2 THAT
AWARE 1/2AWARE IN THAT REGARD?
>> HOW MUCH STRESS AND STRAIN CAN BE PUT ON THE INSTITUTIONS
IS KIND OF WHAT I'M HEARING YOU ASK, AND WE FOUGHT A CIVIL WAR
OVER THIS ONCE. THE THING S LET'S NOT DO IT
AGAIN. [ CHANTS OF "USA" ]
>> DO YOU MISS ME YET? DO YOU MISS ME?
WE WENT THROUGH A JOURNEY LIKE NOBODY ELSE, AND IT IS FAR FROM
BEING OVER. WHO KNOWS?
I MAY EVEN DECIDE TO BEAT THEM FOR A THIRD TIME, OKAY?
>> PEACEFUL TRANSITIONS OF POWER, THAT'S WHAT OUR DEMOCRACY
IS FOUNDED ON. THE LOSER SAYS THE COUNTRY HAS
TO PULL TOGETHER, AND YOU COME TOGETHER.
PEACEFUL TRANSITIONS OF POWER ARE THE KEY AND THEY MUST
HAPPEN, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T, YOUR DEMOCRACY IS DOOMED, AND
THERE
THERE IS
THERE IS NO