Pentagon denies false claim that Biden-Harris admin authorized troops to use force against Americans

The Pentagon released an different connection Thursday debunking a rumor dispersed online that falsely claims U.S. troops are authorized to usage unit against American citizens during nan election. 

Former statesmanlike campaigner Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others person dispersed inaccurate accusation that suggests a Defense Department argumentation revision successful precocious September was timed to interfere pinch nan Nov. 5 statesmanlike election. 

"... Biden/Harris person conscionable pushed done DoD Directive 5240.01 giving nan Pentagon powerfulness -- for nan first clip successful history -- to usage lethal unit to termination Americans connected U.S. ungraded who protestation authorities policies," Kennedy posted connected X to his 4 cardinal followers. 

U.S. rule prohibits national troops connected American ungraded from utilizing unit against U.S. civilians, isolated from successful cases of self-defense arsenic outlined successful nan Posse Comitatus Act. 

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The Pentagon successful Arlington, Virginia. (STAFF/AFP via Getty Images)

The cited revision, Department of Defense Directive (DODD) 5240.01, does not let troops to usage unit connected U.S. citizens. The timing of its merchandise was not related to nan election, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough told The Associated Press. 

"The policies concerning nan usage of unit by DOD addressed successful DoDD 5240.01 are not new, and do not authorize nan DOD to usage lethal unit against U.S. citizens aliases group located wrong nan United States, contrary to rumors and rhetoric circulating connected societal media," Gough said successful a statement. 

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks connected Oct. 21 successful Kyiv, Ukraine. (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

The Pentagon regularly updates its directives. This update, which happened connected Sept. 27, was intended to align nan connection connected usage of unit from different policies into 5240.01, which only applies to defense intelligence personnel. 

"Defense Intelligence Components whitethorn supply unit to assistance a Federal section aliases agency, including a Federal law enforcement agency, aliases a State aliases section rule enforcement agency erstwhile lives are successful danger, successful consequence to a petition for specified assistance," it says. 

The directive says nan Secretary of Defense must motion disconnected connected "Assistance successful responding pinch assets pinch imaginable for lethality, aliases immoderate business successful which it is reasonably foreseeable that providing nan requested assistance whitethorn impact nan usage of unit that is apt to consequence successful lethal force, including decease aliases superior bodily injury." 

Former statesmanlike campaigner Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dispersed inaccurate accusation surrounding nan Department of Defense directive. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

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Defense intelligence unit are permitted to proviso intelligence, analysis, training, instrumentality and weapons to civilian authorities. However, they cannot usage unit themselves. 

Fox News’ Greg Norman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.