According to CBS News correspondent David Martin, a psychological operations officer recently resigned from her commission after the Army said they were investigating her leading a group of people from North Carolina to the rally in Washington that led to the deadly riot in the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump supporters.
Fort Bragg commanders said they were investigating Captain Emily Rainey’s role in the events in the nation’s capital last week. Still, she said she operated under military rules and that no one in her party violated the law.
On Sunday, Rainey told the Associated Press, “I was a private citizen and doing everything right and within my rights.”
Rainey said she led 100 members of Moore County Citizens for Freedom, a group that identifies itself online as a non-partisan network supporting conservative values. She said the group was attending the protest, but she did not know of anyone entering the Capitol, and that hours before the emergency curfew took effect, they were heading back to their buses.
According to Maj. Daniel Lessard, a spokesman for 1st Special Forces Command, Rainey, 30, is assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg. Known as PSYOPS, to influence American enemies’ thoughts, decision-making, and behavior, the organization uses knowledge and disinformation.
Back in May, Rainey made headlines after she shared a video online of her tearing down caution tape at a playground that was closed under covid-19 restrictions in North Carolina, where police charged her with injury to personal property.
At least 90 individuals have been detained thus far on charges ranging from misdemeanor curfew violations to felonies linked to police officer attacks, unlawful firearms possession, and death threats against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Rainey said that her group and most of the individuals traveling to Washington “are peace-loving, law-abiding people who were doing nothing but demonstrating our First Amendment rights.”
Members of the U.S. military are allowed out of uniform to take part in political groups and activities. There are caveats, however. The Order of the Department of Defense forbids active-duty military personnel from sponsoring political organizations. It is uncertain whether Rainey’s presence on Wednesday with her party went against DOD policy.
Rainey said that she attended the Trump rally while on leave and did not advertise that she was an Army officer. She said on Sunday afternoon that her commanders had not questioned her about her time in Washington. Still, she did not immediately respond to a subsequent inquiry into the Army investigation.
“I told my bosses before I went that I was going, and I told them when I got back,” she said.
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), an Iraq war veteran, tweeted Monday that Rainey “needs to be removed from her job.”
Whether she was in the Capitol or not she needs to be removed from her job. Anyone stupid enough to fall for this bs shouldn’t work for Special Forces. https://t.co/MIkYMqyyMH
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) January 11, 2021
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