'Unmitigated liars': Ex-Guard official accuses Army of 'textbook whistle-blower retaliation' in new complaint

Former Donald Trump administration official Colonel Earl Matthews on Wednesday filed a 37-page complaint alleging two U.S. Army officials punished him for alerting Congress that the pair lied about the reason for delayed deployment of the National Guard on January 6, The New York Times reports.

The Times notes the filing "underscores how many questions remain about aspects of the government and law enforcement response to the deadly attack on the Capitol."

Per the report, a former DC National Guard lawyer, "Colonel Matthews drafted a 36-page memo that he submitted to the House Jan. 6 committee, accusing General Piatt and Gen. Charles Flynn of being 'absolute and unmitigated liars' in their testimony before Congress."

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Furthermore, the Times reports, "The complaint was filed with the Pentagon's inspector general by the lawyers Andrew Bakaj and Mark Zaid through the organization Whistleblower Aid, saying "that in addition to costing Colonel Matthews money in the form of forgone salary and pension, the alleged retaliation imposed 'grievous reputational harm, significant personal embarrassment and public humiliation.'"

Matthews said "he was falsely accused of unprofessional behavior," in February 2023; "listed as a person of concern who might try to disrupt a military conference in Virginia being attended by General Piatt and was escorted out of a hotel hosting the seminar by security personnel."

Furthermore, the former Trump administration officials said he was "denied consideration for promotion, despite having been selected by a promotion board for brigadier general."

According to the report, "Colonel Matthews's experience on Jan. 6 is largely consistent with the accounts of other District of Columbia and law enforcement officials involved in the response that day, including one provided by the former Capitol Police chief, Steven A. Sund, who said the Pentagon was more concerned about 'optics' than quickly deploying the National Guard."

READ MORE: Mark Meadows said the National Guard would be 'on standby' to 'protect pro-Trump people' on Jan. 6: report

He emphasized, "I got on a call with the Pentagon and pleaded for the National Guard. There was delay after delay after delay."

Matthews insisted in an interview, according to the Times, "It's textbook whistle-blower retaliation. I wrote that memo because I saw real wrongdoing. I love the United States Army. To me, this is about Army values."

Per the Times, the former top Guard lawyer "is asking that the inspector general recommend he be slated for assignment to brigadier general and that those who retaliated against him be reprimanded and punished."

The New York Times' full report is here (subscription required).