FILE – In this Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol Police officers hold off rioters at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
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UPDATED 1:02 PM PT – Tuesday, June 8, 2021
According to a bipartisan Senate panel, intelligence and security failures lead to the events on Capitol Hill on January 6.
In a 12 page report released Tuesday, senators found U.S. Capitol Police knew about possible threats of violence days before the event and failed to enact any additional security measures. The report found internal intelligence departments failed to share vital information with each other, in turn, leading to a breakdown in communication.
While the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security also knew about threats to the U.S. Capitol, they did not deem them as credible. Lawmakers have criticized the FBI and DHS for failing to warn about the threat of violence in advance of the incident. They also called on the Capitol Police chief to maintain a direct line of communication with the National Guard to prevent similar incidents in the future.
FILE – In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, smoke fills the walkway outside the Senate Chamber as rioters are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers inside the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Meanwhile, the Defense Department’s lax security at the Capitol on January 6 was partly due to the backlash it received for its response to the George Floyd protests, according to the Senate report. It noted that the DOD was reluctant to respond with force after it was criticized for a “heavy handed” response to the protests that took place throughout 2020.
Future recommendations include creating a better security plan across the board and allowing the Capitol Police chief to request help from the National Guard in an emergency.
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