An information gap after the Capitol attack fueled fears among members of Congress that it was an inside job involving the Capitol Police.
Why it matters: The mass resignations of the Capitol Police chief and Senate and House arms sergeant, along with some instructions from federal officials like the FBI, left important questions unanswered and a lone Ohio Democratic congressman trying to fill in the gaps.
Deputy Tim Ryan, chairman of the House’s budget subcommittee that oversees the Capitol Police, held three virtual meetings to update reporters.
- On Monday, he shared the shocking news that two Capitol police officers were suspended and 10-15 were under investigation for their behavior during the riot.
- “One was the selfie officer and the other was an officer who put on a MAGA cap and started guiding people,” said Ryan.
- There has been no official statement or press conference from the Capitol Police since the attack.
A Democratic aide to the House told Axios that, among other things discussed in his weekly caucus call this afternoon, the members expressed “a lot of anger and frustration over national security breaches”.
- Representative Jim Clyburn (DS.C.) said on Friday that something “unpleasant” occurred after protesters apparently came looking for him in an unidentified office, separated from his main location in Statuary Hall, with his name on it.
The backdrop: Ryan and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) Announced last Thursday that the Legislative Power subcommittee, which funds the Capitol Police, is actively investigating what happened.
- They have conducted several hearings and liaisons with law enforcement and military personnel while working on a tight schedule to get more responses and implement changes / reforms to tenure.
The final result: The uncertainty comes as the clock strikes for President-elect Joe Biden to take office in nine days.