The Capitol Police officials are denying a claim that officers were told to only look for “anti-Trump counter protestors” on the morning of Jan. 6, before a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.
In a statement on Thursday, the department said, “In the last 24 hours, numerous media outlets and others have reported on inaccurate comments made about United States Capitol Police Department radio traffic on January 6.”
“The comments suggested officers were only looking out for anti-Trump counter protestors. The radio call has been misquoted and is lacking full and necessary context,” it continued.
“This is verbatim from the radio call which was made at 8:24 A.M. on January 6: ‘With regards to pedestrian traffic on the grounds today, we anticipate a — a large presence for pro-Trump participants. What we’re looking for is anti-Trump counter protestors.’ The radio call does not mean USCP was only looking out for anti-Trump counter protestors. The next radio transmission requires that officers be on the lookout for a pro-Trump protester carrying a possible weapon.”
The statement went on to say that officers were told to look for counter protesters because of clashes between the two sides last November and December.
Read the statement below:
JUST IN: The Capitol Police is in full pushback mode against LOFGREN, describing her remarks as "inaccurate" and providing a verbatim of the radio transmission she referenced. pic.twitter.com/pRf5SePzLe
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 22, 2021
During a House Administration Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) claimed that the radio transmission mentioned in the department’s statement was under review by the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
She claimed that officers were told they should not be “looking for any pro-Trump in the crowd.” Instead, she alleged they were “only looking for any anti-Trump.”
A committee aide told Politico that the committee “is recently in receipt of new documents and emails related to the Jan. 6 insurrection, including materials which brought to light these issues the Chair asked the (inspector general) about today. The committee is continuing to review those documents and emails and intends to review the relevant recorded audio when it is available.”