U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Testifies on Events Leading Up to Attack on Capitol

U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton testified before the House Administration Committee on the IG’s 104 page report, “Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol.” Portions of the report have been released to the public, as it is classified as ‘law enforcement sensitive,’ although media outlets have obtained full copies of the report. According to Bolton’s written testimony, U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) were warned that the riot at the Capitol would be larger than anticipated and there may be a need for stronger reinforcements. Bolton furthered that problems in leadership as well as equipment deficiencies resulted in Capitol Police not being prepared for the breach.

The report discussed by Bolton assesses the shortcomings of the Capitol Police’s response to the breach. According to Bolton, the report detailed a number of concerns, including a fragmented approach to tracking intelligence and a significant lack of training. There was also a lack of threat assessment and analysis in the weeks leading up to the attack.

The IG report identifies sources alerting that supporters of former-President Trump, who denied the results of the 2020 election, planned to storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In his written testimony, Bolton stated, “USCP failed to disseminate relevant information obtained from outside sources, lacked consensus on the interpretation of threat analyses, and disseminated conflicting intelligence information regarding planned events for January 6, 2021. Additionally, the Department did not require that all of its sworn and operational civilian employees obtain security clearances.”

The Capitol Police utilizes a Civil Disturbance Unit (CDU), which is tasked with handling emergencies like the breach of the Capitol, but the officers responsible for the CDU were underprepared and untrained to handle such an emergency, according to the report.

Bolton’s testimony furthered, “CDU was operating at a decreased level of readiness as a result of a lack of standards for equipment, deficiencies noted from the events of January 6, 2021, a lapse in certain certifications, an inaccurate CDU roster, staffing concerns for the unit, quarterly audits that were not performed, and property inventories not in compliance with equipment."

Capitol Police did not have access to the proper shields and riot gear they needed to combat the insurrection, and many were instructed to use less lethal forms of weaponry instead of flash bangs and smoke grenades to disperse crowds.

Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) noted during the hearing that if protective equipment for Capitol Police officers had been strategically placed around the Capitol, there would have been less of a need for civilian employees to resupply the officers during the attack. She said that, "unarmed and unescorted civilian employees were sent to deliver less than lethal munitions to officers, but they were hindered by the crowd".

The House Appropriations Committee is working on a supplemental funding measure to help USCP to ensure that an attack on the Capitol like the one which took place on January 6 does not happen again. House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) explained, “Since January 6, the Appropriations Committee has reviewed the security failures ourselves. We have come away with a clear conclusion: we must improve intelligence collection and review, bolster the capacity and training of the Capitol Police, and make physical security improvements to the Capitol Complex.”