Coming up at 3PM ET: Michael Bolton, inspector general for the U.S. Capitol Police, comes back to Congress to offer the latest on his assessment of the 1/6 attack.
Background from when he was here a few weeks ago:
courthousenews.com/capitol-police…
Background from when he was here a few weeks ago:
courthousenews.com/capitol-police…
https://twitter.com/BBuchman_CNS/status/1391724234775355395
Bolton will say his assessment found deficiencies at USCP ranging from outdated or vague guidance to a failure to report contact from threats to the lack of a counter-surveillance unit and regularly insufficient resources.
US Capitol Police IG Michael Bolton: "In regards to cultural change, we see that the Department needs to move away from the thought process as a traditional Police Department and move to the posture as a Protective Agency"
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You can catch a stream of today's hearing here:
And later, I'll have a report for @CourthouseNews.
And later, I'll have a report for @CourthouseNews.
Executive summary of IG Bolton's latest report to Congress on threat assessment before/during/after 1/6 attack: docs.house.gov/meetings/HA/HA…
Rep Rodney Davis brings up Gabbie Giffords' shooting at today's hearing on the 1/6 attack.
There's been a steady increase in threats to lawmakers in recent years and USCP says from 2020, threats up 107%.
There's been a steady increase in threats to lawmakers in recent years and USCP says from 2020, threats up 107%.
Rep. Davis was warming up for the congressional baseball game in '17 w/Scalise when Scalise was attacked. A man threatened to kill Davis directly too. That man was charged. Davis calls for "more arrests and prosecutions of those who intend to carry out those threats."
On countersurveillance failures on 1/6, Bolton notes:
with the pipebombs, three USCP teams went to the pipe bomb sites and because they were doing an investigation, "They're doing double duty, leaving one team to guard the complex... If it was meant to be a diversion, it worked"
with the pipebombs, three USCP teams went to the pipe bomb sites and because they were doing an investigation, "They're doing double duty, leaving one team to guard the complex... If it was meant to be a diversion, it worked"
.@RepRaskin How much were USCP caught unaware just because of the violent ferocity of the attack on the Capitol? Were they just overwhelmed and stunned at the complexity/magnitude of the attack?
Bolton: I would venture to say yes.
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Bolton: I would venture to say yes.
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All info coming into the department, they were not able to triage it, Bolton says of 1/6 threats.
The info was flowing in that day, but only to one analyst, so part of the problem was not having enough hands on deck to analyze and respond. Bolton recommends a central intel desk:
The info was flowing in that day, but only to one analyst, so part of the problem was not having enough hands on deck to analyze and respond. Bolton recommends a central intel desk:
Even if we hire 1K officers, if we don't have the infrastructure, the training, not just initial but continuous training - and gear it towards a protective model as opposed to a police dept, then we are not going to accomplish our goal. - USCP IG Bolton on securing US Cap complex
Bolton says USCP has been very receptive to his recommendations thus far.
Rep Pete Aguilar notes: In 2019 Bolton said then there was a lack of coherent policy inside USCP.
Not a while lot has changed.
Bolton emphasizes the need for a weekly report that is far more specific than what has been produced.
Not a while lot has changed.
Bolton emphasizes the need for a weekly report that is far more specific than what has been produced.
For example, if a report is going to a commanding officer and it doesn't specify assessments or threats, while it might satisfy a policy, Bolton asks: Is it useful?
"What's the point of saying, yeah, I worked 8 hours every day last week. There's no value in that." - Bolton
"What's the point of saying, yeah, I worked 8 hours every day last week. There's no value in that." - Bolton
Aguilar asks who updates the reports inside USCP?
Bolton says it is incumbent upon whoever is in charge. Let's say, for example, it is protective services, It is the deputy chief's job to make sure policy/procedures are up to date.
Bolton says it is incumbent upon whoever is in charge. Let's say, for example, it is protective services, It is the deputy chief's job to make sure policy/procedures are up to date.
"We found policies referencing BlackBerrys and we haven't used them in years," Bolton says of one assessment.
So, Aguilar asks, how frequently should policies/procedures be updated?
So, Aguilar asks, how frequently should policies/procedures be updated?
Bolton couldn't recommend a specific timeline but said each dept must "take it upon themselves to provide a repeatable business practice.
The last update to USCP's investigation division, Aguilar says, was March 2009.
The last update to USCP's investigation division, Aguilar says, was March 2009.
A protective team unit updated their policy for task force agents a little over a year ago, Bolton testifies. And as far as suspicious activity trend analysis, Bolton says no updates to those ops yet.
Pardon the typos.
Only 3 'Stop and Contact' reports were filed w/USCP before 1/6 attack.
The next report from USCP IG will review radio traffic on/around day of. In light of those findings: "There should have been many more than the 3 filed that night," he said.
That report comes out in June.
The next report from USCP IG will review radio traffic on/around day of. In light of those findings: "There should have been many more than the 3 filed that night," he said.
That report comes out in June.
Story later for @CourthouseNews
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