An information gap following the attack on the Capitol has fueled fears among members of Congress that it was an inside job involving the Capitol Police.
Why it matters: The massive dismissal by the Capitol chief of police and sergeant-at-arms of the Senate and House, coupled with some briefings by federal officials such as the FBI, have left important questions unanswered and a lone Democratic congressman from Ohio that tries to fill in the gaps.
Rep. Tim Ryan, chair of a House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees Capitol Police, conducted three virtual briefings to keep reporters informed.
- On Monday, he shared shocking news that two Capitol Police officers had been suspended and 10-15 officers were under investigation for their behavior during the riot.
- “One was the selfie officer and the other was an officer who put on a MAGA hat and started showing people around,” Ryan said.
- There has been no official briefing or press conference from the Capitol Police since the attack.
A Democratic aide to the House told Axios that, among other things, discussed during their weekly caucus call this afternoon, members expressed “much anger and frustration at the failure of national security.”
- Deputy Jim Clyburn (DS.C.) said on Friday that something “unpleasant” had happened after rioters apparently searched for him in an unmarked office separate from his main location in Statuary Hall, decorated with his name.
The background: Ryan and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) Announced last Thursday that the Legislative Industry Credits Subcommittee, which is funding the Capitol Police, is actively investigating what has happened.
- They’ve held several hearings and phone calls with law enforcement and military officials while working on a tight timeline to get more answers and make changes / reforms ahead of the inauguration.
It comes down to: Uncertainty comes as the clock ticks towards President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in nine days.