Capitol police were unprepared for rioters, authorities say

Some of the rioters shot what he called “chemical irritants” at officers guarding the complex to gain access to the building.

The small group of Capitol Police officers who guarded the building when lawmakers started a joint session of Congress to count 2020 election votes quickly outnumbered as rioters approached the building. Once inside, they broke into lawmakers and roamed freely.

Officials said they had expected a repeat of relatively small fights between far-right and far-left factions that broke out in the dark during similar protests in November.

“Capitol police were unprepared for the enormity of the protest,” said David Gomez, a retired FBI director. When the rioters invaded the Capitol, other federal law enforcement agencies were slow to respond, either out of deference to President Trump or due to a lack of experience dealing with riots, which is not their primary mission, Mr. Gomez said. Until they breached the Capitol, there was a possibility that it would turn into a major protest that wasn’t over those barricades. They once did [law enforcement personnel] were overwhelmed and could not respond quickly enough, ”he said.

Defense Department officials had previously said they expected about 350 members of the DC National Guard to be enough to support Washington, DC, police during the protests this week, mainly to assist with traffic control. Wanting to avoid the optic of having US servicemen on the steps of the Capitol, they ordered officers not to wander east of 9th Street in downtown Washington, blocks from the Capitol, officials said.

After the building was breached, the Department of Defense announced it would activate an additional 1,100 DC National Guard troops, but it was unclear whether they would be deployed in the Capitol or elsewhere in the district.

The response was markedly different from the way the Trump administration responded to protests over racial injustice last year, sometimes involving federal agents in riot gear. For example, in June, federal law enforcement officials faced widespread criticism for using tear gas to remove a largely peaceful crowd from Lafayette Square near the White House shortly before Mr. Trump visited St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is adjacent to the park. , to stand outside with a Bible.

“We have fully activated the DC National Guard to assist federal and local law enforcement officials in addressing the situation peacefully,” said Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller. “We are ready to provide additional support as required and appropriate as requested by local authorities.”

In late Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said his state would send 1,000 National Guard troops to DC. “NY stands ready to ensure the will of the American people is carried out safely.” he tweeted.

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen condemned the events at the Capitol as “an unbearable attack on a fundamental institution of our democracy.” Mr. Rosen said the Department of Justice has sent agents from the FBI, the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the US Marshals Service to assist the Capitol Police.

Washington Metropolitan Police Department agents were also sent to the Capitol to help restore order, clear the building and set up a perimeter, Mayor Muriel Bowser said. At her request, the state police of Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia had worked to assist and she sought a mutual aid agreement with police forces in several surrounding jurisdictions. On Wednesday evening, there were at least 52 arrests, including four for carrying guns without a license, one for possession of a banned weapon, and 47 for curfew violations and unauthorized access. Twenty-six of the arrests took place on the Capitol grounds, police said.

The US Capitol Police is the federal law enforcement agency that protects members of convention and convention buildings with about 1,900 officers, according to its website.

The incidents they encounter are normally less severe than those of other police departments patrolling the streets and investigating cases, but the force expanded its ranks after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and again when it merged with the police of the United States. Library of Congress. in 2009.

They were on the scene and were injured themselves when Rep. Steve Scalise (R, La.) Was shot in 2017 during an outdoor exercise for the annual charity convention baseball game. Lawmakers who also attended the practice attributed their survival to the actions of the Capitol police.

Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), Who was in the batting cage at the time of the shooting, said on MSNBC at the time, “I probably heard 50, 60 shots,” adding, “Everyone would probably have died. the fact that the Capitol police were there. “

Still, Wednesday’s breach by the pro-Trump rioters raises questions about whether Capitol Police is equipped to deal with more widespread threats and violence.

Former Senate historian Donald Ritchie said Capitol Police may be excused for misinterpreting the pro-Trump crowd. “This just doesn’t fit the way Americans protest or Americans get together or show their political feelings,” said Mr. Ritchie, pointing out that the Capitol has seen massive protests in its history over numerous issues. “I am amazed it happened,” he said, “for the same reasons as the police were amazed it happened.”

The coronavirus pandemic also created new challenges for the police.

Because Congress remained open for business during the pandemic, at least a dozen officers had tested positive for the coronavirus by May 2020 and were concerned about their working conditions, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.

—Nancy Youssef and Jess Bravin contributed to this article.

Write to Aruna Viswanatha at [email protected] and Sadie Gurman at [email protected]

Corrections and reinforcements
Last year there was unrest in Portland, Oregon. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said it took place this year. (Corrected on January 6)