Houston officer accused of entering Capitol Hill during riot calls for privacy

HOUSTON – A Houston police officer accused of entering the United States Capitol during last week’s riot asked for privacy on Thursday.

Officer Tam Pham, an 18-year-old veteran of the Houston Police Department, resigned on Thursday morning.

Pham spoke briefly to the media when he arrived home on Thursday afternoon.

“Please, just give my family privacy,” said Pham. “It is a very difficult time.”

Houston police chief Art Acevedo said on Wednesday that Pham attended the rally organized by President Donald Trump in Washington last week and then “penetrated” the Capitol building during a riot that left five people dead.

Acevedo said he was “highly confident” that Pham will face federal charges in connection with the charges and that he gave the information he gathered to the FBI.

“There is no excuse for criminal activity, especially that of a police officer,” said Acevedo. “I can’t tell you how angry I am at the thought of a policeman and other officers thinking they are going to invade the Capitol or members of the Secret Service army.”

Pham told the Houston Chronicle that he was only there to take pictures.