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It's been a day. But one thing that continues to bother me:
What the heck happened with the Capitol Police (USCP)?
My first thought was that they were surprised, but no:
https://twitter.com/MiriamElder/status/1346941799374475269
https://twitter.com/ariehkovler/status/1341019133668978690
https://twitter.com/willjennings80/status/1346946815422320641 https://twitter.com/RepMaxineWaters/status/1347002550608818179
What the heck happened with the Capitol Police (USCP)?
My first thought was that they were surprised, but no:
https://twitter.com/MiriamElder/status/1346941799374475269
https://twitter.com/ariehkovler/status/1341019133668978690
https://twitter.com/willjennings80/status/1346946815422320641 https://twitter.com/RepMaxineWaters/status/1347002550608818179
This would have been a pretty insane failure if it happened on some random day when nobody important was in the Capitol.
But it happened while electors were being counted, and elected representatives were in the building. One of the most security-critical days.
But it happened while electors were being counted, and elected representatives were in the building. One of the most security-critical days.
In addition to there being no pre-response, the post-response was very slow to spin up. Surprisingly slow. Including a fumble by the DoD on the National Guard request.
This is national security, folks. We changed our entire NC apparatus after 9/11 to stop this stuff.
This is national security, folks. We changed our entire NC apparatus after 9/11 to stop this stuff.
Actions by USCP here was pretty anemic compared to what police usually do. Some flash-bangs, some minor tear gas, a few fights.
In Portland they covered a city block with tear gas, they had a bucket with a ladle to throw it, there was a literal tear gas tornado.
In Portland they covered a city block with tear gas, they had a bucket with a ladle to throw it, there was a literal tear gas tornado.
After the fact police seemed pretty upset about this: https://mobile.twitter.com/JoshuaPotash/status/1346976928079749120
Note that this is inappropriate use of force by police. We don't want police doing this to BLM protestors, nor do we want it being done to MAGA rioters. Also I don't endorse the use of tear gas.
Note that this is inappropriate use of force by police. We don't want police doing this to BLM protestors, nor do we want it being done to MAGA rioters. Also I don't endorse the use of tear gas.
It's pretty clear that something went wrong today with Capitol security. A full investigation is required:
- Why was there no planning around this known threat?
- Why did USCP buckle so easily?
- Why was backup so slow to arrive?
Etc...
- Why was there no planning around this known threat?
- Why did USCP buckle so easily?
- Why was backup so slow to arrive?
Etc...
In case anybody thinks that it’s not a national security issue because it’s domestic. Not only is that not true, but also this: https://twitter.com/jacobian/status/1347001812889452545
Apparently there was a plan:
https://www.rollcall.com/2021/01/06/capitol-police-inability-to-secure-seat-of-u-s-government-raises-serious-questions/
https://www.rollcall.com/2021/01/06/capitol-police-inability-to-secure-seat-of-u-s-government-raises-serious-questions/
Looks like media has been tracking this for at least a week now. I think it’s very safe to say that the threat was known and USCP were aware.
So on to the next step: why didn’t they do anything about it? https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/janelytvynenko/trump-rioters-planned-online
So on to the next step: why didn’t they do anything about it? https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/janelytvynenko/trump-rioters-planned-online
Note that this is a statement from metro police, not USCP. However, it strongly indicates at least incompetence.
OSINT knew, meaning that at best this is a complete breakdown of national security communications.
https://twitter.com/ReporterCioffi/status/1347231440669446146 https://mobile.twitter.com/jmooreDC/status/1347231941800693760
OSINT knew, meaning that at best this is a complete breakdown of national security communications.
https://twitter.com/ReporterCioffi/status/1347231440669446146 https://mobile.twitter.com/jmooreDC/status/1347231941800693760
Looks like USCP were explicitly warned prior, had assistance offered by federal agencies, and turned it down.
No contingency planning at all. The AP story really makes clear the failure before, during, and after.
Still need to understand why. https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-riots-police-coronavirus-pandemic-9c39a4ddef0ab60a48828a07e4d03380
No contingency planning at all. The AP story really makes clear the failure before, during, and after.
Still need to understand why. https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-riots-police-coronavirus-pandemic-9c39a4ddef0ab60a48828a07e4d03380
For anybody who thinks I’m overstating this: persons 1, 2, and 3 in the presidential order of succession were in the building at the time. That includes the VP.
We retooled our national security apparatus after 9/11 to prevent domestic assaults like this. Why did this happen?
We retooled our national security apparatus after 9/11 to prevent domestic assaults like this. Why did this happen?
Justice Department also has national security concerns, glad that it’s not just me!
Also apparently USCP misled Rep. Lofgren.
There’s a fair number of damning anecdotes/clips out there, but without context it’s hard to assess.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/07/capitol-hill-riots-doj-456178 https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1347318758038265863
Also apparently USCP misled Rep. Lofgren.
There’s a fair number of damning anecdotes/clips out there, but without context it’s hard to assess.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/07/capitol-hill-riots-doj-456178 https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1347318758038265863
This is a very bad look. https://twitter.com/RobertMackey/status/1347374738369175553
More stories: WaPo reporting agrees that planning failed and the response was slow. The timeline does not clarify some things, though.
Also apparently the person who controls the money is pissed off.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-police/2021/01/07/fa3114b8-5114-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html
Also apparently the person who controls the money is pissed off.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-police/2021/01/07/fa3114b8-5114-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html
Important to note that all of these people are criminals. Yet they are being allowed to just walk out, completely free to go.
Now we are spending a huge amount of money on a large scale federal manhunt because USCP failed to arrest at the time. https://twitter.com/mattmiller757/status/1346944869588230144
Now we are spending a huge amount of money on a large scale federal manhunt because USCP failed to arrest at the time. https://twitter.com/mattmiller757/status/1346944869588230144
Because it seems to be getting brought up a fair amount: USCP have not been even slightly defunded. They are a veritable army. The incompetence is absolutely not explained by budget or staffing. https://twitter.com/SamAdlerBell/status/1347619832087408640
In case anybody thinks it wasn’t completely predictable. Random people predicted it quite accurately. Intelligence agencies absolutely could have, so something prevented them from doing so, or from sharing that prediction. https://twitter.com/ariehkovler/status/1341016471795843080
Somebody much smarter than me asking many questions with good mechanical details: https://twitter.com/rgoodlaw/status/1347953732043083777
Buzzfeed News article with some eyewitness accounts. Pulling some topical parts out here with screen captures.
The two hour timeline will have to be confirmed, I’m sure we’ll see a reconstruction soon. No communication from USCP chiefs is hugely strange.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmanuelfelton/black-capitol-police-racism-mob
The two hour timeline will have to be confirmed, I’m sure we’ll see a reconstruction soon. No communication from USCP chiefs is hugely strange.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmanuelfelton/black-capitol-police-racism-mob
Rep. Tim Ryan is the person with the money. Here is his thread.
It looks like this will get an intense investigation which is great and very much needed. Tim specifically calling out the “disturbing” videos is good, they need context. https://twitter.com/RepTimRyan/status/1347907999562670080
It looks like this will get an intense investigation which is great and very much needed. Tim specifically calling out the “disturbing” videos is good, they need context. https://twitter.com/RepTimRyan/status/1347907999562670080
In another Buzzfeed News article, Rep. Ryan goes on the record again.
Notably “every precaution” and “USCP chief apparently not even there on the radio” really do not make sense together. Curious to learn more.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/congress-investigate-capitol-police-riot-failures-selfies
Notably “every precaution” and “USCP chief apparently not even there on the radio” really do not make sense together. Curious to learn more.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/congress-investigate-capitol-police-riot-failures-selfies
New story from WaPo tonight. Far and away the most damning account yet. In fact it is incredible and nearly implausible.
1. FBI was notified by a private lawyer, not USCP.
2. USCP knew crowd size and the urgency of concerns well ahead of time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-capitol-siege/2021/01/09/e3ad3274-5283-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html
1. FBI was notified by a private lawyer, not USCP.
2. USCP knew crowd size and the urgency of concerns well ahead of time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-capitol-siege/2021/01/09/e3ad3274-5283-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html
Here’s an independent timeline by an individual. You should interpret the commentary with your own mind (pre-6th notes above linked tweet).
But the timeline is well executed, has lots of clips, and completely agrees with all other timelines I have seen. https://twitter.com/LiteraryMouse/status/1348150333814558721
But the timeline is well executed, has lots of clips, and completely agrees with all other timelines I have seen. https://twitter.com/LiteraryMouse/status/1348150333814558721
Conclusions we can draw from this:
1. There was plenty of time to call for reinforcement.
2. Police presence was extremely light.
3. While some police were engaged in a pitch battle, many were not doing much of anything. Not even the basics of their job.
1. There was plenty of time to call for reinforcement.
2. Police presence was extremely light.
3. While some police were engaged in a pitch battle, many were not doing much of anything. Not even the basics of their job.
