Page:CTRL0000034609 - Transcribed Interview of Kashyap Pramod Patel, (December 9, 2021).pdf/51

51 preparations for January 6th?

The biggest lesson in my mind—

Yes.

—is that the Members of Congress did not want an arms display, for lack of a better word, on National Guardsmen and -women ever. That's my recollection.

Okay.

—looking back at the arc of this entire thing—

Great.

Now, that's what the number one—I wouldn't call it number one—that was a lesson learned that I recall other folks saying, but that's about it.

And how did that relate to the summer of 2020?

I'm not sure. What do you mean?

What do you recall—you said Members of Congress didn't want an armed display. How does that in some way—again, your recollection—reach back to what happened in the summer of 2020?

I think it stems from, I believe, Chairman Milley at the time walked across Lafayette Square with a sidearm holstered on his military uniform. I believe that's what that reference was to. And Chairman Milley would have a better idea of those conversations because it impacted him directly.

I'm not asking you to look inside of Chairman Milley or anybody else's mind. I'm just asking you, in your role as a high-level official in the Department of Defense, how the summer events affected preparation for the riot at the Capitol.

Look, I believe I've answered it. I mean, if you would like, we can again look at things that can help to jog my memory, but I believe I've answered your question.

You have no independent recollection beyond the stuff, the documents, that