Capitol Officials Denied Pre-Riot Request for National Guard
- Top Capitol security officials tell lawmakers of missteps
- Access to Congress could be forever changed after violence
Rioters clash with U.S. Capitol police officers while trying to enter the Capitol building on Jan. 6.
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
U.S. Capitol police were denied pre-authorization for National Guard support two days before the violent insurrection that overwhelmed their defenses and threatened lawmakers, according to written testimony in a House briefing on security failures in the deadly Jan. 6 riot.
The 1,200-person Capitol Police force was overwhelmed by a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters that outnumbered law enforcement officials who were diverted to other emergencies, under-prepared and not sufficiently armed to repel the attack, acting Capitol security leaders said in their testimony.