Thread by @kyledcheney

TODAY: The House's acting sergeant-at-arms will testify that on Jan. 6, the only way authorities knew to find lawmakers trapped in their offices was if his staff was contacted directly. He's advocating for a better system to communicate where lawmakers are in an emergency.

Acting sergeant-at-arms Tim Blodgett will also testify that he plans to introduce "emergency training for members on the House floor" and urges lawmakers to participate.

Notably, two of the three Republicans on the appropriations subcommittee holding this Capitol security hearing supported Trump's impeachmnent.

HERRERA BEUTLER: "It’s also important that we try to keep this institution as accessible to the public as possible. Sacrificing the openness of this institution is not the only way to keep the Capitol secure."

COMMON THEME: Acting Capitol Police Chief Pittman is the latest to emphasize that the Secret Service was willing to bring Pence to the Capitol, which would not have happened if the intelligence suggested an armed insurrection threatened the building.

NEWS: Acting Capitol Police chief Pittman says she pulled SUND's phone records and they show he called the House sergeant at arms at 12:58 pm to request National Guard support.

She says he called the Senate sergeant at arms at 1:05 p.m as well.

This contradicts the record presented by both Sund and Irving. Sund said he first called to ask for help at 1:09. Irving said he had no record of this call and was on the House floor, which is true based on video.

But this adds new time elements to the story.

DELAURO gets acting chief Pittman to say she'll report out the results of investigations of 35 Capitol Police officers accused of misconduct for actions on Jan. 6'

DELAURO on the Capitol Police Board: "It’s just there, it doesn’t appear to do a hell of a lot, nor did it do a hell of a lot to deal with this situation on Jan. 6. It’s like your appendix. It’s just there. IT doesn’t have any real function."

Rep. CLARK asks if institutional racism played a role in inadequate preparation for Jan. 6.

PITTMAN notes she's the first black and female USCP chief but says no, there's no evidence of a disparity.

! Pittman says militia chatter suggests they want to "blow up the Capitol" in an action tied to the State of the Union (which has not been scheduled).

She says Capitol Police plan to maintain heightened security posture until threat has passed.

UPDATE: Capitol Police chief says the militias who joined in the Jan. 6 insurrection have chattered about plans to "blow up the Capitol" in an action tied to the State of the Union.

She said it's one reason they're keeping the heightened security posture.
politico.com/news/2021/02/2…

BLODGETT, the acting House sergeant at arms, said the magnetometers were put up outside the House chamber because "we had members stating that they were carrying on the House floor."

NOTABLE: Pittman refuses to confirm that Office Howard Liebengood's death — he reportedly took his own life — was connected to the events of Jan. 6.

"I can’t speak to that at this time, ma’am," Pittman said. "It’s still under active investigation."

WEXTON: Will you commit to public press briefings in the future, given silence for two months?

PITTMAN: "No ma’am not at this time."

Really bad answer from Pittman about complete absence of press briefings since Jan. 6.

"US Capitol Police has issued a number of press releases," she said, adding they have been focused internally on employee well-being and providing answers to congressional committess instead.

RYAN says USCP has been better at communicating with lawmakers since Jan. 6, but...

"We also think the American people and the press need to hear directly from you."

A lot of crucial information revealed about the Jan. 6 insurrection — and future threats — at today's Capitol security hearing. But no one asked about the status of the review of lawmakers who may have given tours to would-be-insurrecitonists on Jan. 5.

politico.com/news/2021/02/2…

NEW: The acting Capitol Police chief revealed a new threat to "blow up the Capitol," refused to commit to public briefings and injected new details into the Jan. 6 timeline of the failed security response.

More from her important testimony today:

politico.com/news/2021/02/2…