House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demands the resignation of Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund over the crowd of President Trump supporters who were allowed to storm Congress over his election loss.
Sund “hasn’t even called us since this happened,” Pelosi said in a press conference Thursday afternoon, about 24 hours after the shocking attack.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) Said House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving is already stepping down in response to the attack on the Capitol – which delayed but did not prevent the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Trump.
Pro-Trump protesters looted offices, broke into the Senate floor, and clashed with law enforcement officers under the Rotunda during hours of chaos.
A Trump supporter was fatally shot by a police officer while attempting to enter Pelosi’s speaker lobby. Another protester was photographed stealing Pelosi’s podium, adorned with her official seal.
“I call for the resignation of the Capitol – the Chief of the Capitol Police, Mr. Sund,” Pelosi said at a Thursday afternoon press conference.
“There was a failure of leadership at the top of the Capitol Police.”
Earlier in the day, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who will soon become majority leader, demanded the resignation of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Stenger.
“If Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Stenger hasn’t left the position … I’ll fire him once the Democrats have a majority in the Senate,” Schumer said.
Pro-Trump protesters were able to access the building after encountering shockingly little resistance to the removal of a perimeter fence. Several entrances to the building were subsequently broken into, bringing lawmakers to safety.
The Senate Chamber was entered after protesters entered the apparently unlocked visitor galleries above the Senate floor. An activist was photographed jumping over the balcony. Then he unlocked the doors of the Senate for others. Officers implored the group not to rummage through senators’ belongings.
Pelosi said there would be a comprehensive review, including why federal agents took so long to swarm Capitol Hill to restore order.
“We will have the post-action evaluation, but it goes beyond the Capitol Police,” Pelosi said.
“It’s going to the FBI. What was the shortcoming in their information they provided? It goes to the Ministry of Defense. How long did it take for them to respond or anticipate the need for the National Guard? It goes to many other elements of the executive. “
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Said Thursday that there were “shocking shortcomings in the Capitol’s security position and protocols” and called for “a close investigation and overhaul.”
McConnell’s wife, Transport Secretary Elaine Chao, became the first Trump cabinet member on Thursday to announce her resignation after the attack, which followed a speech near the White House where Trump told thousands of supporters that the election had been stolen from them and that they had to marching on the Capitol.