Page:CTRL0000034609 - Transcribed Interview of Kashyap Pramod Patel, (December 9, 2021).pdf/76

76 was the Acting Secretary of Defense. The former Secretary of Defense, Dr. Esper, was terminated a day or two prior to that, as best as I can remember. Acting Secretary of Defense Miller was appointed to the position.

And Acting Secretary of Defense Miller asked me if I was—if I recall correctly, "Are you interested? Would you serve? We've worked well together in the past." Something like that is generally how I remember the conversation going. And I said, you know, I'm happy to serve, you know, whatever the mission and whatever my instructions are.


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When did you become aware of Secretary Esper's dismissal?

Mr. Glabe. Can you give us just a moment?

[Discussion off the record.]

The Witness. Let me just—where'd it go?—read one thing.

The select committee was authorized by H. Res. 503 to investigate the events of January 6, 2021. I believe this question falls outside the scope of that legislative purpose. I'm concerned about the improper question and the inappropriate line of inquiry and inherent fishing expedition. Nevertheless, I will do my best to answer the question.

I will also state that this question calls upon an answer that might implicate executive privilege concerns. I want the record to reflect my serious concerns about congressional overreaching on executive privilege.

So what I remember about former Secretary of Defense's termination is it happened around the election. I believe shortly thereafter I was in the Oval Office when President Trump removed—terminated Secretary Esper. That's how I found out about it.