Senate Rules Committee investigation of failures on Jan 6 shows series of mistakes that exposed officers
Failure by Capitol Police intelligence division to convey warning that people were sharing maps of the Capitol on-line ahead of Jan 6
Senate report says some of the officers had to fight back against Insurrectionists in their daily uniforms, without riot gear or helmets
(The report reiterates a troubling finding from earlier this year - riot gear was locked in a bus nearby and officers couldn't get into it)
This passage in Senate investigation is striking: " Of USCP’s 1840 sworn officers, only approximately 160
are trained in advanced civil disturbance tactics & use of “hard” protective equipment. Fewer than ten are trained to use USCP’s full suite of less-than-lethal
munitions"
Senate report says US Capitol Police Board didn't understand how to call for help on Jan 6
Unacceptable
The board operates w/ NO transparency, no open meetings, no FOIA, no disclosure... yet appears not to know fully what it's doing. It oversees police dept w/ arrest power!
Dept of Defense sluggish response was "informed by criticism" it received for its response to racial justice protests in DC in June.. including low-hanging helicopter
This is painful to read. Especially for the families who live on Capitol Hill
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called the US Army Secretary at 134p to report things getting "out of control"
Pentagon finally deployed DC Natl Guard at 5:04p
Senate report on Jan 6 recommends Capitol Police improve preps of a "Quick Reaction Force" for special events
That's ironic.. because Oath Keepers are accused of detailed planning of their own Quick Reaction Force, staged w/ arms for 2nd wave if Trump invoked Insurrection Act
Senate report puts the failures of US Capitol Police leadership on Jan 6 in context
Agency has a ton of money
2021 funding: $515 million
Nearly as much as Washington DC Metropolitan Police, which have twice as many officers and enormous city & range of crimes to police
!! This passage from Senate investigation of Jan 6 is powerful. Very powerful!
A cook from the Senate carryout lunch counter brought water to officers on front lines to help them clear chemical spray from their eyes
And look what an officer reported finding in halls later ==>
Senate report says Capitol Police had intelligence on Dec. 21 about plans for far right groups to be in Wash DC Jan 6 with encrypted communication, targeting underground Capitol tunnels
And posts about "bringing guns", confront lawmakers & police "let them shoot first"
Senate report again underscores a big dispute. Acting Capitol Police chief says a Jan 3 special assessment warned of possible violence at Capitol & was shared w/ Capitol Police Board
Board member Brett Blanton says he doesn't remember getting it
**Both still have their jobs**
Despite statements from leadership that US Capitol Police was "all hands... on deck" on Jan 6..... new Senate review finds the department was NOT
Review finds only some of the force was on duty.. and somehow US Capitol Police can't account for who was deployed or posted where
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NEW: Justice Dept files motion in court seeking to dismiss civil lawsuit filed by injured police officers who responded on Jan 6
Officers' suit sought court order to hang the legally-required Jan 6 honorary plaque for police
Justice Dept argues the plaque is faulty!
(MORE)
The Justice Department argues that the plaque that's been shown on Capitol Hill "lists the names of approximately twenty-one law enforcement entities not the approximately 3,648 individual names of law enforcement personnel provided to the Architect"
Justice Dept motion (more): "Thus, the plaque referenced in that testimony is not the plaque directed by the statute, which calls for the creation of a plaque
'listing the names of all of the officers"
ALERT: Former FBI agents file suit alleging "unlawful retaliation" against Kash Patel & FBI.. for firings over their kneeling response during DC unrest after George Floyd murder
Suit: "As a result of their tactical decision to kneel, the mass of people moved on without escalating to violence"
The dozen fired FBI agents are seeking a court order to restore their jobs and provide backpay
Suit: "Plaintiffs were among the FBI personnel deployed during this period and saw the potential for violence first-hand" .. they say the kneeling was a de-escalation tool
FBI agents lawsuit (MORE): "Plaintiffs had been informed that the purpose of the deployment was to show a visible law enforcement presence, and they wore vests marked 'FBI' and carried their firearms. But they were not properly prepared or instructed to conduct crowd control operations"
FLASH: Judge rules James Comey criminal case is dismissed without prejudice. Judge determined the US Attorney Lindsey Halligan was not lawfully appointed
"All actions flowing from Ms. Halligan’s defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr. Comey’s indictment, were unlawful exercises of executive power and are hereby set aside."
From the judge: "The Attorney General’s authority to appoint an interim U.S. Attorney lasts for a total of 120 days from the date she first invokes section 546 after the departure of a Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney. If the position remains vacant at the end of the 120-day period, the exclusive authority to make further interim appointments under the statute shifts to the district court"
ALERT: James Comey files another motion to dismiss criminal case, citing issues with grand jury presentation by US Atty Lindsey Halligan
"The government has thus committed a series of flagrant legal violations. And the government’s misconduct has threatened Mr. Comey’s liberty—even though Mr. Comey should be experiencing the peace of an expired statute of limitations"
The new 29-page motion by James Comey to dismiss his criminal case includes this header:
"THE INDICTMENT SHOULD BE DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE BASED ON MISCONDUCT BEFORE THE GRAND JURY"
James Comey's new motion to dismiss (MORE): "A grand jury may indict only if at least 12 jurors concur.' But here, at least 12 jurors did not concur in the only indictment presented to the grand jury."
Three sources familiar with the matter tell CBS News federal investigators are questioning the handling of the investigation into California Senator Adam Schiff
(MORE)
Christine Bish, a California Republican who filed an initial tip w/ the feds about Schiff’s mortgage documentation, told CBS News she was questioned by federal agents today and was asked about Bill Pulte, the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
(MORE)
Christine Bish characterized the interview to CBS News. She said, “They weren't asking me about Schiff. They were asking me about other people who were investigating Schiff."
NEW: James Comey files additional argument to get criminal case dismissed as "vindictive prosecution":
"The indictment in this case is unique in American history: it is the product of a yearslong campaign by the President of the United States to punish a citizen for protected speech. Mr. Comey has exercised his right to engage in public discourse critical of the President"
(MORE) James Comey's argument for dismissal of criminal case: "The President’s calls for prosecution do not rest on evidence, investigation, or recommendations. Rather, they express pure vengeful animus to punish a perceived political adversary. And the President managed to achieve his retaliatory goal only by installing a White House aide as U.S. Attorney"
(MORE) James Comey's new filing seeking dismissal of criminal case: "Not only does President Trump have the ultimate power to cause a prosecution, but the sequence of events that led to Mr. Comey’s prosecution leaves no doubt that he exercised that power here. After forcing out the incumbent United States Attorney, Erik Siebert, because of his reticence to bring this and other cases against the President’s perceived political enemies, the President posted on social media a message to the Attorney General excoriating her for failing to prosecute those enemies"