A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is pushing for more transparency from the U.S. Capitol Police in the wake of Jan. 6, asking officials to hold regular press conferences on any threats to the U.S. Capitol and make public the pending Capitol Police inspector general report on the siege of Congress.
In a letter addressed to members of the Capitol Police Board, House Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Ryan and ranking member Jaime Herrera Beutler wrote to “express frustration” with the board’s “unwillingness to release information to the public or answer media questions regarding the events of January 6th, the current security posture of the U.S. Capitol Police and plans to secure the Capitol Complex in the mid-and long-term future.”
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“The entire world bore witness as a secure perimeter was breached at the U.S. Capitol on the afternoon of January 6th,” the lawmakers’ letter reads. “A vulnerability at the heart of our nation’s democracy was suddenly laid bare for all Americans to see.”
The letter continues, “Restoring security at our nation’s Capital in a sustainable manner therefore requires more than just increased equipment and personnel; it means publicly acknowledging the critical deficiencies that existed, discussing transparency and accountability goals with relevant stakeholders, and sharing plans for how it will be made safe for citizens to once again visit their Capitol and engage in the nation’s business.”
Ryan and Herrera Beutler said that the country needs more public-facing leadership from Capitol Police.
“We ask that you hold regular press conferences updating the public on any threats to Congress,” they wrote. “We also request that you share progress being made to strengthen USCP to protect the Capitol Complex, Members, staff, and the visiting public. We fully anticipate that sensitive details would remain confidential but expect USCP to share as much information as possible.”
When asked about the letter, Capitol Police told the Washington Examiner in a statement, “The U.S. Capitol Police has made major changes to improve the flow of information to Congress and the public following the attack on our democracy.”
The statement pointed to 31 news releases from the Capitol Police, posts on social media, and the information provided for congressional investigations, though it did not mention plans to conduct press conferences.
Capitol Police also responded directly to the letter’s request for the inspector general’s report, saying, “The OIG operates independently from the Department, as it should, and reports directly to the Capitol Police Board. Therefore, the Department is not authorized to release any of the OIG’s reports.”
As an example of what kind of updates Ryan and Herrera Beutler might be seeking, Capitol Police reported earlier this month that it obtained “intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4,” which resulted in the House adjourning earlier than scheduled. Despite the warnings, no attack on the Capitol occurred that day.
Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who resigned his post after the riot, admitted the existing system wasn’t perfect during testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in February.
“I acknowledge that under the pressure of an unprecedented attack, a number of systems broke down,” Sund said at the hearing, citing a “lack of clear communications and directions from officials.”
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Since the Jan. 6 riot, after which five people died, the Capitol has undergone a number of security changes, including increased fencing and tighter security screenings even for lawmakers, though Capitol Police said that the outer ring of fencing would be completely removed by the end of March.
Capitol Police could not immediately be reached for comment.
