Rep. Payne, Jr. Wants a Congressional Investigation into Capitol Police Response to Attack on U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. asked for a full Congressional investigation today into why Capitol Police officers failed to protect the U.S. Capitol Building before and during the riot on January 6, 2021.  Specifically, Rep. Payne, Jr. wants to know why officers allowed rioters to enter the building with minimal resistance and why they were so unprepared for such an attack when peaceful protests for Black Lives Matter supporters were met with armed guards and military vehicles.  During the invasion, Capitol Police officers were seen in pictures and videos opening barricades for the criminals, helping them access areas in the Capitol, and even taking photographs with them as they destroyed and looted the building.    

“What happened during the attack on our Capitol Building should never have happened,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “Capitol Police are there to defend our temple of democracy from all invaders, foreign and domestic, and I applaud the many officers who did just that.  But too many officers were complicit in the siege.  We need to know if these officers acted on their own or if they were told to stand down during this vicious and heinous act.”

Congressman Payne, Jr. wrote a letter to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the Committee on House Administration, and Rep. Rodney Davis, ranking member of the committee, to get more information on why Capitol Police did not arrest more people, what disciplinary actions will be taken against officers who helped the domestic terrorists, and even if members of far-right, extremist groups have infiltrated the Capitol Police.  During the riot, armed supporters of President Trump invaded the U.S. Capitol Building, killed a Capitol Police officer and injured at least 60 others, ransacked Congressional offices, and forced dozens of elected officials from both political parties to move to secured locations.  In the letter, Rep. Payne, Jr. wrote that an investigation needs to happen because the “events of January 6 have shaken our confidence in the ability and willingness of the USCP’s leadership to protect the Capitol Building, Members, staff, and sensitive intelligence information from an armed mob.”  The letter was co-signed by 21 members of Congress.

The full letter is listed below:

 

January 8, 2021

 

 

The Honorable Zoe Lofgren                                       The Honorable Rodney Davis

Chairperson                                                                Ranking Member

Committee on House Administration                        Committee on House Administration

1401 Longworth House Office Building                    1740 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20515

 

Dear Chairperson Lofgren and Ranking Member Davis,

On January 6, 2021, armed insurrectionists stormed the United States Capitol. United States Capitol Police Officers, tasked with the safety and security of the Capitol Complex, the Members, and all staff who work in these buildings were unable to prevent this mob from gaining access to the Capitol, the House and Senate Chambers, and several leadership offices. After disrupting Congressional proceedings, ransacking offices, and assaulting USCP Officer Brian Sicknick who later died from his wounds, the mob was allowed to peaceably depart.  Officers were so overwhelmed that only 13 individuals were arrested, and it is unknown if the murderer is among them. 

Even more disturbing than the operational failures of the day are the videos that show USCP officers opening barricades to let this armed mob into the Capitol, taking selfies with them, and allowing them access to vandalize sensitive leadership offices. These images of accommodation and acquiescence to stand in stark contrast to the heavily-militarized police forces assembled last summer to confront nonviolent, unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters.

Put bluntly, the events of January 6 have shaken our confidence in the ability and willingness of the USCP’s leadership to protect the Capitol Building, Members, staff, and sensitive intelligence information from an armed mob.

To ensure that this attack cannot and will not be repeated, we respectfully ask that you investigate the following issues surrounding the January 6, 2021 attack:

• Why were armed insurrectionists not arrested after storming and ransacking the Capitol of the United States and assaulting USCP officers?
• Who made the decision that allowed USCP officers to open barricades, allowing the mob to storm the Capitol?
• Will there be disciplinary consequences for USCP officers who took selfies with or otherwise abetted the rioters while they were inside the Capitol?
• Have far-right extremist groups succeeded in infiltrating the USCP?

 

Thank you for your timely attention to this matter. Failure to provide swift and immediate consequences on both the insurrectionists and those who abetted their attack will only invite further violence.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Donald M. Payne, Jr.

Member of Congress

 

 

 

Sheila Jackson Lee                                                                             André Carson 

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress        

 

 

Jahana Hayes                                                                                      Dwight Evans

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

Jim Cooper                                                                                         Ilhan Omar

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

Jared Huffman                                                                                    Bobby L. Rush

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

 Ann McLane Kuster                                                                          A. Donald McEachin

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

Filemon Vela                                                                                      Nikema Williams

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

Bill Foster                                                                                           Mark Takano

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

Yvette D. Clarke                                                                                 Barbara Lee

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

Mondaire Jones                                                                                  Grace Meng

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

Judy Chu                                                                                             Vicente Gonzalez

Member of Congress                                                                          Member of Congress

 

 

David N. Cicilline

Member of Congress

 

Washington D.C. council member ask district's Attorney General is Trump can be prosecuted for inciting a riot

In a letter sent Thursday, D.C. Councilmember Robert White (D-At Large) asked District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine to assess whether Trump could be prosecuted for inciting a riot.

Under existing D.C. law, it’s illegal for anyone to “willfully [incite or urge] other persons to engage in a riot,” which the law defines as a gathering of five or more people who, through their actions, create “grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons.”

In his letter, White says that Trump could well have violated this law when he rallied supporters on the Ellipse just ahead of the chaos at the Capitol that left five people dead and suspended the counting of electoral votes for seven hours.

“[Trump] asserted that the presidential election was rigged and corrupt, and supporters heeded the President’s call to go to the Capitol and ‘fight like hell,'” wrote White, himself an attorney. “The resulting violent attack was deliberate and predictable.”

Anyone convicted of inciting a riot can be sentenced to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The law also specifies that if during a riot “a person suffers serious bodily harm or there is property damage in excess of $5,000,” the possible consequences get significantly more severe: 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

“In response to the terrorist attacks on the Capitol, I took time to think through vulnerabilities going forward, and it quickly occurred to me that not only had the president incited a riot, but that he’s likely to continue doing this after he’s out of office,” White said in an interview. “So I wanted to make sure we have the ability to hold the president accountable both for the terrorist attacks he incited this week and for any time he may do this after he leaves office.”

A spokesman for Racine said his office was “reviewing the letter,” but had no immediate comment on whether prosecuting Trump for inciting a riot would be possible. Earlier today, though, he said on “Good Morning America” that investigations could happen.

[SOURCE: DCIST]

Colin Powell wishes Trump would just step down

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says he wishes President Trump would resign from office amid growing calls for his removal after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol.

“I wish he would just do what Nixon did and just step down.”

Watch @SavannahGuthrie’s full interview with former Secretary of State Colin Powell about Wednesday’s siege on the U.S. Capitol and why he thinks President Trump should resign. pic.twitter.com/1jo9giKJO2

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 8, 2021

Rep. Cori Bush to introduce bill that would expel GOP lawmakers who tried to overturn the presidential election

Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) said on Twitter Wednesday that she plans to introduce a bill that would expel lawmakers who attempted to overthrow the US presidential election results.

Read her statement below:

I believe the Republican members of Congress who have incited this domestic terror attack through their attempts to overturn the election must face consequences. They have broken their sacred Oath of Office.

I will be introducing a resolution calling for their expulsion.

Barack Obama statement on attempted insurrection in Washington D.C.

Former President Barack Obama released the following statement after the attempted insurrection in Washington D.C. on 01/06/2021 by a group of thugs and goons, AKA Trump supporters:

History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation. But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise.

For two months now, a political party and its accompanying media ecosystem has too often been unwilling to tell their followers the truth — that this was not a particularly close election and that President-Elect Biden will be inaugurated on January 20. Their fantasy narrative has spiraled further and further from reality, and it builds upon years of sown resentments. Now we’re seeing the consequences, whipped up into a violent crescendo.

Right now, Republican leaders have a choice made clear in the desecrated chambers of democracy. They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires. Or they can choose reality and take the first steps toward extinguishing the flames. They can choose America.

I’ve been heartened to see many members of the President’s party speak up forcefully today. Their voices add to the examples of Republican state and local election officials in states like Georgia who’ve refused to be intimidated and have discharged their duties honorably. We need more leaders like these — right now and in the days, weeks, and months ahead as President-Elect Biden works to restore a common purpose to our politics. It’s up to all of us as Americans, regardless of party, to support him in that goal.