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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Oliver O'Connell and Graeme Massie

Trump news – latest: Jan 6 texts ‘wiped’ from Pentagon officials’ phones, court documents reveal

Getty Images
Trump 'refused to call off attack' on Capitol during Jan 6 riots, US representative says

Text messages received and sent on the day of January 6 attack on the Capitol last year were “wiped” from government-issued phones of senior defense officials in the Trump administration, according to court documents.

The Pentagon wiped phones belonging to officials such as ex-acting defence secretary Chris Miller, ex-army secretary Ryan McCarthy, and Mr Miller’s former chief of staff, Kashyap Patel, after they turned them in upon their resignations on 20 January.

“That when an employee separates from [Department of Defense] or Army he or she turns in the government-issued phone, and the phone is wiped,” the document said.

Meanwhile, MrTrump’s endorsement of “Eric” for the Republican primary election for a US Senate seat to replace retiring Senator Roy Blunt has caused a stir among the party members.

There are two GOP front-runners named Eric in that race – former governor Eric Greitens and state Attorney General Eric Schmitt. Both of them have seemed to assume that they were endorsed by Mr Trump. There is also a third GOP candidate named Eric McElroy on the Republican primary ballot.

Mr Schmitt won the Republican Senate primary on Tuesday.

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