Thread by @JMichaelWaller

Those of us who reported this at the time were called liars, seditionists, and traitors. @FDRLST thefederalist.com/2021/01/14/i-s…

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1382124393896288260

1) Excerpts from my eyewitness account from the West Front of the Capitol on January 6, published in @FDRLST on January 14. They comport with many of the @CapitolPolice IG's findings:

"Capitol Police anti-riot unit prepared early, but presence was light."

2) "When we crossed First Street NW to enter the Capitol grounds where the Capitol Police had jurisdiction, I noticed no police at all."

"that appearance of low threat level made no sense. . . .  no Capitol Police appeared anywhere from what we could see . . . ."

3) "... and I commented on to my companion that it was very strange for there to be no police during a joint session of Congress – with or without a gigantic crowd."

4) "No police could be seen on the [Capitol West Front presidential inaugural] platform for now. No police could be seen anywhere."

"... Normally, the Capitol Police are excellent at communicating with crowds. Not today."

5) "I had seen anti-riot police in action before. They moved with a decisive sense of purpose. Now, the Capitol Police crew seemed confused, as if without a leader or perhaps inadequate rules of engagement. These real professionals seemed directionless."

6) "Some [Capitol Police] clambered up and down the inaugural platform steps. Others milled back and forth at the swearing-in level. Most of the police ended up leaving the surreal scene. Nobody could tell why."

7) "... the lack of perimeter police presence, and the confused actions of those [@CapitolPolice officers] firing tear gas, flash grenades, and pepper balls from the presidential swearing-in platform, had me thinking that something was wrong at the command level."

8) "From out there on the lawn, a breakdown in police command and control was unthinkable."

CNN, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Daily Beast, Washington Examiner, Huffington Post, etc., trashed this eyewitness account as a "conspiracy theory." thefederalist.com/2021/03/01/no-…