US lawmakers seek investigation into police force protecting Capitol

The request was made by two Democrats who at the new Congress will run subcommittees overseeing the budget for the Capitol Police.

There will be many videos, some raising concerns, some showing heroism. We need a full investigation into how the security of the Capitol was so quickly violated”, Senator Chris Murphy said.

Lawmaker Tim Ryan noted the lack of preparation before Wednesday's planned rally, where supporters of President Donald Trump gathered to support his continuing and groundless refusal to lose elections.

“I think it's quite clear there will be a number of people who will be fired very, very soon because it's a shame like the crowd, the president, the uprising, and the coup attempt, but also the lack of professional planning and confrontation with what we knew would happen”, he said.

Lawmaker Ilhan Omar added: “We spend billions of dollars on national security, and today we failed to protect our country's capital from an illegal mob. Unacceptable! ”

Wednesday's series of events began with President Trump speaking at a noon rally near the White House, urging the crowd to continue the fight for election results, while members of Congress were preparing for the certificate of votes two miles away.

We will be walking through Pennsylvania Boulevard... and going to the Capitol... we will try to give our republics... the kind of pride and courage they need to take over the country again”, he said.

By 1: 30 p.m., the Capitol Police were asking all those in the House of Representatives building and those in a building attached to the Library of Congress to evacuate. Shortly after 2 pm, a security external threat placed in the western section of the Capitol Building “was announced, followed soon by another alarm signal signaling a “security threat within the” building.

Lawmakers and staff were instructed to find refuge, close doors, and stay away from windows.

Robert Cantane, chief of the city's Metropolitan Police Department, said the Capitol Police at that moment asked his department for assistance.

In some of the numerous videos distributed in social media and news organizations, Capitol Police officers can be seen surrounded by huge crowds who passed through the barricades and avoided officers who were trying to stop their progress. Other protesters climbed the walls as some broke windows to get inside the building.

Members of the House of Representatives and Senate, together with Vice President Mike Pence, who was conducting the Certificate session, were evacuated.

The crowd spent hours inside the building, including in the House of Representatives' office of Nancy Pelosi, leaving behind damaged doors and furniture before going out fighting little resistance.

According to Mr. Cunee, until 6:00 p.m. when the Capitol Police, assisted by local officers as well as the National Guard and federal law enforcement agencies, recovered control, police had shot one woman and three other people dead because of medical problems.

Metropolitan police said they arrested 52 people and 14 of the department's officers were injured.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed a ban that later went into effect, and lasted all night. At about 21 o'clock, lawmakers were back in Congress to resume their session.

“I just passed through the Capitol to return to the House of Representatives,” said Republican lawmaker Kelly Armstrong late Wednesday. The Capitol Police is still there. Exhausted, bleeding, bandaged, some are in the barracks. They did their job today and they did good. They're still here. In defense of the U.S. Capitol so that the House of Representatives and Senate can gather and fulfill the constitutional task”.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney wrote on Twitter his thanks to the Capitol Police, the FBI, the Secret Service and the National Guard, praising their <x0-professionalism and bravery”.

As Thursday was coming in, the FBI issued a call to the public to provide photos, videos or information about protesters.

At 1:13 a.m., a recent announcement came from the Capitol Police that there was no more internal security threat.

While preparations are under way on the western side of the Capitol for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20th, Mrs. Bowser said she extended the emergency order for 15 days “to ensure peace and security”.

The U.S. Secret Service leads security efforts for the inauguration, but usually receives assistance from numerous agencies like the Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police, Federal Aviation Administration and National Guard. / VoA