Two Capitol police officers were suspended after supporters of President Trump invaded the United States Capitol, according to Representative Tim Ryan, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. Ryan said on Monday that there were “10 to 15” investigations of Capitol police.
The actions of some Capitol police officers are under intense scrutiny after videos show some rebels easily entering the United States Capitol on Wednesday. Some policemen seemed to be friendly with the hooligans in the videos. Ryan said that a police officer who took selfies with protesters and another who put on Trump’s red cap, “Make America Great Again” were suspended.
“There were two people suspended, one was the selfie officer. And the other was an officer who put on a MAGA hat and started guiding some people. I don’t know – let them in, let them out – exactly what it was, but it was the interim chief, determined to qualify immediately for immediate suspension, “the Ohio Democrat told reporters in a conference call on Monday.
Ryan added that the Capitol Police “is looking at everyone involved who could have facilitated it on a large or small level anyway.”
After the turmoil, morale among base officers worsened, multiple sources counted CBS News. The sources said the department had “some incidents” in which police officers threatened to harm themselves.
The riot, in which Trump supporters tried to overthrow President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, also led to the resignation of Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund and lawmakers called for an investigation into what happened.
Some questioned whether the incident was an inside job, including Whip James Clyburn of the House of Minority.
“Who opened these side doors for these protesters, or do I call them mobsters, to enter the building, not through the main entrance where the magnetometers are, but through the side doors? Yes, someone inside these buildings was an accomplice to that,” Clyburn said in an interview with CBSN on Friday.
Two Capitol Police died since the riot. Four other civilians also died.
Michael Kaplan contributed to this report.