Page:CTRL0000034609 - Transcribed Interview of Kashyap Pramod Patel, (December 9, 2021).pdf/96

96 outside of the chain of command or improper whatever—

What I remember is—

Mr. Glabe. Kash, hold on. Let me just say, we've previously entered an exhibit that has an op-ed that states his policy views and recollections of—that's public on what Kash did—

The Witness. But what I remember is—I got it. Hang on. What I remember is the general agreement obviously was reached between the National Security Advisor, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Acting Secretary of Defense that we would not follow or execute any improper order or memo, if it existed as you characterized. I don't remember seeing a memo, but I remember that conversation was had in part while I was running in and out.


 * BY :

Yeah. So my question though is that's kind of a big deal that there's some discussion about some improper order being issued. You're the chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense. What, if anything, happened after? Did you have other conversations? Did you learn more about that?

I think, as people, you know, collectively is the Acting Secretary of Defense, the Ambassador, and the Chairman, and I, as I think I've stated before, would never follow an unlawful or improper command. So I don't think there was much for us, in my opinion, to discuss if somebody was saying do something that is improper or unlawful. I know the three, four of us—or they would've agreed amongst themselves, having worked for them extensively—were not going to do that. And I think that would have been the end—my recollection is that was the end of that discussion.

Did that happen a lot that there were improper, unlawful orders that you just—people just didn't follow?