Inside the Capitol siege: How barricaded lawmakers and aides sounded urgent pleas for help as police lost control
By @karoun, @CarolLeonnig @pkcapitol @byaaroncdavis
wapo.st/3nBXwa4?tid=ss…
By @karoun, @CarolLeonnig @pkcapitol @byaaroncdavis
wapo.st/3nBXwa4?tid=ss…
Barricaded in a room with his colleagues, a McConnell adviser began calling and texting former top officials at the Justice Department for help.
Speaking in a whisper, he told one the situation was dire: If backup did not arrive soon, people could die.
Speaking in a whisper, he told one the situation was dire: If backup did not arrive soon, people could die.
On New Years Eve, Rep. Maxine Waters asked the Capitol Police chief what intelligence the force had about how big the Jan. 6 gathering would be. Sund, she said, didn’t have a clear answer. “They don’t know who’s coming. They don’t know whether any of these are violent groups.”
Alerted by a former DOJ official to the breach, FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich rapidly mobilized three tactical teams.
“Get their asses over there. Go now,” he said to the first team’s commander. “We don’t have time to huddle.”
“Get their asses over there. Go now,” he said to the first team’s commander. “We don’t have time to huddle.”
Meanwhile, furious senators peppered Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger with questions. The dispirited official was barely audible. Finally, he sat down, saying to no one in particular, “I wish I had just retired last week.”
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
