The Interior Department’s Office of the Inspector General is probing the actions of Park Police earlier this month when demonstrators were removed from a park near the White House prior to President Trump’s walk to a nearby church.
A spokesperson for the internal watchdog confirmed to the Washington Examiner that it is looking into the Park Police’s actions during the incident, which included the use of smoke canisters and pepper balls to drive protesters from Lafayette Square, which is located next to the White House.
“Given the significance of the events, we have already begun collecting and reviewing information,” the spokesperson said. “After we make an initial determination of which agency had command and control of the law enforcement operations, we will conduct a review of Park Police actions accordingly.”
News of the review comes after Democratic Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called for an investigation.
The June 1 incident occurred as the nation was embroiled in protests following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The scene outside the White House was chaotic as the demonstrators were cleared from the area.
Once the crowd was removed, the Secret Service maintained a path so that the president could walk from the White House to Washington, D.C.’s St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he was photographed holding up a Bible. The move was panned by the church’s bishop as well as some lawmakers. The church had been vandalized during rioting the night before.
In the fallout from the incident, acting Park Police Chief Gregory Monahan said that protesters were acting violently and had thrown frozen water bottles, bricks, and “caustic” liquids at officers on the scene.
