Retired Army Lieutenant General Russel Honoré said the US Capitol Police and House and Senate arms sergeants were “complicit” in the Capitol riot last month.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Has called on Honoré to lead the United States Capitol security investigation after the January 6 attack.
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But days after the attack, Honoré attacked the Capitol Police and the House and Senate sergeants, claiming “complicity”.
“I was surprised that the Pentagon did not have these troops on standby,” Honoré told MSNBC. “The FBI has had a major failure in its intelligence.”
He added: “I think that once all of this was discovered, it was complicit actions by the Capitol Police.”
Honoré said an investigation needs to determine whether former US Capitol police chief Steven Sund “was … an accomplice to the arms sergeant in the House and Senate.”
He added: “It looks like complicity.”
General Russel Honore comments during a memorial service for Hurricane Katrina on August 28, 2007 in New Orleans, on the second anniversary of the disaster. (PAUL J. RICHARDS / AFP via Getty Images)
Honoré also suggested that perhaps the Capitol Police and other officials “agreed because he could have thought 45” – referring to former President Trump, the 45th president of the United States – “was coming to the Capitol and gave way to the protesters . “
During a separate interview for FOX 8 just a day after the uproar, Honoré said that “he has never seen so much incompetence, so they are so stupid or ignorant or complicit.”
“I think they were accomplices,” he said.
The resurgent comments come at a time when some Republican lawmakers are criticizing Honoré, known for his role in responding to Hurricane Katrina, calling him a “party extremist”. Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Tweeted this week that Honoré “must be the LAST person to lead an investigation of what happened on Capitol Hill on January 6th.”
And earlier this week, in a letter to Pelosi, Republican Party representatives Jim Jordan, Devin Nunes, James Comer and Rodney Davis also questioned Honoré’s nomination, saying he was chosen by Pelosi “without consulting the minority.”
Republicans acknowledged, however, that, to Honoré’s credit, “he contacted several Republicans to report on his work so far”.
But they added that “they are hopeful that their review will result in beneficial recommendations that are not influenced by political motivations” and that Republicans “remain skeptical that any of their final recommendations will be independent and without influence from you”.
Pelosi’s office on Thursday praised Honoré in response to accusations of partisanship against him.
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“General Honoré is a committed public servant whose name is synonymous with integrity and professionalism. His efforts to review the security infrastructure of the United States Capitol, interagency processes and procedures, and command and control include seeking bipartisan contributions to fulfill your mission, “spokesman Drew Hammill told Fox News. “There is no room for partisanship in the mayor’s efforts to make the United States Capitol a safe place for officials, workers, the press and members.”
Pelosi herself praised Honoré when she announced last month that he would lead an investigation into the security situation on Capitol Hill.
“The General is a respected leader with experience in dealing with crises,” she said on January 15. “Household Leadership worked with General Honoré, seen closely for his excellent leadership during the Katrina era, especially Mr. Clyburn was the head of our Katrina task force. So he, I, and others know very well how fortunate we are that the General has accepted and is willing to do so. “
The speaker added that “there is great interest in Congress for a 9/11 type commission, an external commission to conduct this post-action review. In the meantime, I am very grateful to General Honoré for taking on this responsibility.”
This week, Pelosi said in a letter to members that Honoré provided a grim report on Capitol security.
“In recent weeks, General Honoré has been assessing our security needs, looking at what happened on January 6 and how we should ensure that this does not happen again,” she said. “It is clear from his conclusions and the impeachment trial that we must come to the truth about how this happened … As we prepare for the Commission, it is also clear from General Honoré’s interim report that we must present an additional appropriation for ensure the safety of members and the safety of the Capitol. “
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Concern about the future security of the Capitol – and the continued significant presence of National Guard troops in the Capitol complex – was spurred by the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol.
Trump, after months of making false claims that he had won the presidential election, called a rally in Washington, DC, with his supporters for the same day, Congress and then Vice President Mike Pence met in a joint session to certify the election results.
Trump, at the rally, repeated his false claims that he had won the presidential election while he and his aides used rhetoric, angering the large crowd. Trump told his supporters to march to the Capitol after the demonstration.
Eventually, the large pro-Trump crowd overwhelmed the Capitol police and invaded the Capitol, forcing hundreds of lawmakers and Pence to hide while looting the building.
Trump was eventually accused of inciting an insurrection in the Capitol riot, but was not convicted at the Senate trial last week.
Fox News Tyler Olson and Sam Dorman contributed to this report.