The Capitol Police Weren't Ready on Jan. 6, and They Aren't Ready Now
By: Julie Farnam (The Daily Beast)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
TIME FOR OVERHAUL
When—not if—there is another attack from an unknown threat, will they be ready for that? All signs point to no.
Updated Jan. 22, 2024 3:58AM EST / Published Jan. 21, 2024 9:32PM EST opinion
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty
Sitting on my bed on the evening of Jan. 3, 2021, days before the infamous insurrection on our nation's Capitol, I wrote in my intelligence assessment the words that would come to haunt me and this country in the years that followed: "Congress itself is the target on the 6th." This, combined with the nearly 70 pieces of raw intelligence I sent up my chain of command warning of violence, was largely ignored.
At the time I was the Assistant Director of Intelligence and Interagency Coordination at the United States Capitol Police. I was providing relevant, necessary information to the leadership. But it didn't result in action.
If I had been a man writing those prescient words, would they have listened? Would the outcome of January 6th have been different?
Perhaps. And it's infuriating that, in 2023, I must even consider that. But what really makes my blood boil—what really keeps me up at night—is whether we've learned enough from what happened in 2021 to keep the Capitol safe in 2024 and, more importantly, whether we're willing to confront a larger issue: the danger that our senators and congresspeople are in on a daily basis.
As election season approaches, in what very well could be a rematch between Biden and Trump, the Capitol Police will be ready for the next certification of the electoral votes. Surely, they will have anti-scale fences, the National Guard, and other law enforcement partners on hand to protect against the threats they know.
When—not if—there is another attack from an unknown threat though, will they be ready for that?
All signs point to no.
The next crisis will likely be the result of hostility toward a member of Congress. Often fueled by extremist ideology, just as January 6th was, violence against elected officials is the most immediate danger facing the legislative branch today. The volume of threats members of Congress have received has grown to astronomical numbers, much more than the small team of investigators at the Capitol Police can handle.
The things I saw firsthand as the Assistant Director of Intelligence at the Capitol Police that allowed them to fail on Jan. 6—poor communication, disjointed leadership, organizational silos, unclear or nonexistent guidance, and a lack of accountability—are cultural issues that still have not been adequately addressed. This will inevitably result in failure. Again.
Officers and agents alike are overworked, and with the overwhelming volume, the threats cannot be given the dedicated attention they need. With the high attrition rate and the difficulties police departments across the country are having in recruiting new officers to fill their ranks, the Capitol Police are not well-positioned to detect, prevent, or respond to the next threat.
"The Capitol Police need a complete overhaul. The safety of Congress and our democracy requires it."
This was evident in November 2022 when Paul Pelosi, husband of then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was attacked inside his home. Although his house had security, the Capitol Police who were responsible for monitoring those security cameras failed to do so. Only 10 members of Congress receive regular protective details; the remaining 525 members are left on their own to find security.
The Capitol Police need a complete overhaul. The safety of Congress and our democracy requires it. Specifically, Congress should consider:
1. Moving the Capitol Police to be a protective workforce. Congress must separate protection of people from protection of buildings. The mission of the Capitol Police should be narrowed to focus exclusively on providing protection to members of Congress. The Capitol Police have demonstrated they are not capable of protecting the Capitol building against a large mob. The only reason groups have not been successful at breaking into the Capitol before is because none have ever tried. By streamlining the Capitol Police's mission, they'll have a greater opportunity for success and, if done right, it will provide enhanced safety for our elected officials.
2. Transferring the responsibility of securing congressional buildings to the Sergeant-at-Arms offices or another federal entity. The responsibility of protecting the congressional buildings should fall to the Sergeant-at-Arms offices or another capable federal agency like the U.S. Marshals, who are also responsible for protecting federal courthouses.
3. Giving jurisdiction of investigations of threats to the FBI. The Capitol Police do not have the staff or expertise to handle the threat workload or develop cases that are more favorable to prosecution. The FBI has offices throughout the United States and beyond and is better able to absorb this massive workload. Even with the Capitol Police's two field offices and a handful of others contemplated in the future, they do not have the footprint, nor the staffing, to adequately handle the volume of threat cases in the field.
4. Requiring the Capitol Police to be subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Though there are committees charged with oversight of the Capitol Police, with a Congress so divided oversight is often manipulated for political gain. Therefore, oversight should shift to the American people by permitting records to be requested under FOIA. While members of Congress may be concerned about sensitive information about them specifically being leaked, the law already provides exemptions and exclusions from release. Subjecting the Capitol Police to FOIA would provide a greater level of transparency and accountability.
While there are many paths to ensure accountability and meaningful reform, one thing is certain: The Capitol Police cannot allow themselves to fail again.
Julie Farnam served as the Assistant Director of Intelligence and Interagency Coordination at the United States Capitol Police from October 2020 to June 2023. She is the author of Domestic Darkness: An Insider's Account of the January 6th Insurrection, and the Future of Right-Wing Extremism.
No fascist crap, NT rules apply, no shooting the messenger
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And there has been plenty of time for reform. BTW, wasn't fixing this shit the charge put forth to the J6 "Shitty Committee"? Why yes I believe it was. And we have been told they weren't the "Get Trump at Any Cost" committee. Was bullshit then and is bullshit now.
Oh please, I watched it in Real Time and then more in depth with the investigation. Did YOU watch the investigative inquiry, or, because Trump and the "right" told you not to, you remain ignorant to the context and actual Truth.
Trump incited this riot. Trump invited HIS people. Trump coordinated before, and then took 3 hours during, and has run away from any responsibility, but "it will be wild" and the testimony of his aides and those around him tell a different story. Hell, your own ears and eyes should tell you Trump DID cause this, and he only incited it further whence calling out Pence, and by NOT lifting a finger to stop it for tree fckn hours. Try watching the hearings, then tell US Trump is the victim, cause i'll bet you can't !
The committee didn't do shit for recommendations to fix it. Period. Thus this story 3 short (/s) years later..................
The Capitol Police had sufficed for how long before Trump. Since Biden has been in office we don't have Trump to incite insurrection, though he did try after he was indicted as i recall. Trump WAS the REASON they didn't have enough man power and it took so long for reinforcements. Trump has exploited so many weaknesses and deficiencies in our government it is amazing. Our Forefathers never believed we'd be dumb enough to elect an individual that would test their system in so many ways. [Deleted]
Through TDS fogged lenses.
You mean the Pelosi hand picked Jan 6th committee- where she picked the only two Republicans (both of which suffered from TDS more severe than hers). That the Democrats paid a TV producer to to trim down and edit. Where they cherry picked witnesses to drive the narrative they wanted; and hid/ignored any evidence that disproved it. Did you believe everything because the TDS driven mighty mental midget talking heads in the media told you to?
[ deleted ]
You mean US citizens who were his supporters, yes he did.
Not even the FBI believes that. Also Trump is not in charge of DC security. That would have been Pelosi, Bowser, and McConnell at the time. Of course Nancy didn't permit herself or Bowser to be questioned by the committee. Rather convenient.
I don't care if he had the White House staff make popcorn and watched the show live. The Secret Service prevented Trump from going to the Capitol and stopping the riot. They are directly in charge of his safety/security. The Jan 6th committee confirmed they took Trump to a secure location.
Last major blow to you narrative- that both you and the left repeatedly ignore.
That is how his speech ended on Jan 6th. Whether the TDS driven like it or not.
[ deleted sweeping generalization ]
The former 'president' did indeed incite this insurrection/failed coup and the lies and incitement started on election night when he was told he lost - he is still inciting to this day.
Truth! LOVE IT!
What does that have to do with the article?
Flat out lie.
She asked several, they declined.
Really?
Get your facts straight. It is not Pelosi's damn job to ask Republicans to sit on the committee. It was McCarthy's decision to pick the Republican members- which Pelosi bypassed by picking Cheney and Kinzinger.
McCarthy did select the Republican members he wanted on the committee; but Pelosi flat out rejected two of them- breaking all precedence.
Republicans should bar Democrats from any future committees now that they are in charge; but they don't seem to have the stones to do it.
Back your claims up.
If that statement was even close to factually true, why hasn't he been indicted, convicted, sentenced, and put behind bars? After all, it's been 3+ years since the insurrection of which no one was charged with insurrection !
No one has ever tried/incited a failed coup insurrection other than the former 'president'. What do they need to fix?
You mean the Jan 6th committee was not supposed to fix the holes? So they were there just to go after Trump. Who would have predicted that? Oh, thats right, everyone.
The only hole that needs fixing is the one between Trump's chin and his nose.
Blaming the Capital Police for Trump's MAGA insurrection riot is simply disingenuous nonsense.
Sure they did! They found the pipe bombs and the man (on camera) who placed them, right? Oh, wait ... they're still "missing" and he still hasn't been identified. What a sham.
Actually, how could the Capitol Police be ready for something like this? A coup/insurrection incited by the former 'president' and he told the National Guard and everyone else to stand down, did not order reinforcements, refused to.
It's not like they didn't have a warning........or twelve.
If you really want to know, here is what the Senate thinks:
Are you suggesting that the Capital Police should have just started gassing and shooting at the first sign of a Trump mob insurrection?
Too bad that didn't happen. Goodbye MAGA.
I suggest police surround any future Trump speech with fully armed troops carrying lots of ammunition.
Problem solved.
They might as well be wearing swastikas since that is who they would be acting like.
'When-not-if'
So, you admit then that this was an 'attack/a threat to Democracy'?
You seem to have a vivid imagination.
Tell me, what form of Government would we have if they accomplished this so-called insurrection?
“A riot is hardly a threat to democracy as we know it.”
Exactly. If that’s all it takes for this country to fall we are in serious trouble. Russia or china could send a few dozen troops over here and we’re done. Our “democracy is lost.”
And the very same people that claim we almost “lost democracy” are the very same people that have been lying about trump for the last 8 years or so. Night after night after night the talking heads on cnn and msnbc said they have proof of russian collusion. Trump is guilty! Schumer, schiff, swallwell, nadler, pelosi, they lied every damn day about trump, and now we are supposed to believe what they say! Only a fucking fool would fall for their bs.
Talk about projection!
Why did the democrats delete 117 encrypted Jan 6 files right before the republicans took over congress?
Exactly
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You do realize there were two prominent Republicans on this investigative committee, correct ?
By far the majority of people who testified under oath before the committee were Republicans. Do you think they all conspired to "get" Trump ?
Everyone questioned, somehow their answers all led back to Trump and his cronies.
I've heard Trump babble about erased files, but not much else. What could they have deleted that would delete what i saw with my own two eyes, and heard with my own two ears ? Cause there is not much that can undo that which i witnessed.
Both never Trumpers
CAN YOU TEX ? wHAT COULD BE IN THERE THAT EXHONERATES ? What has it been said was deleted ? What has been the BIPARTISAN Response? , as i honestly have not read up on it
So they are also in the vast CONSPIRACY to frame Trump....of course they are, even though Cheney voted with him like 90 percent of the time , yea okay
When good policy is good policy, you bet she voted "with" him. Would have been even swifter political suicide had she not.
What is a never 'former president'er?
Both hand picked by Pelosi. Also both kicked out of the Republican Party. Liz was gone before she completed her term.
Prove it. You are wonderful at making statements w/o facts to back them up.
Just as the Jan 6th committee intended. They only interviewed witnesses who were carefully coached to say what the committee wanted to hear. The DNC even provided lawyers for some to make sure they were "protected"- hearsay can be such a tricky business. Didn't want any of their "star witnesses" being sued into oblivion later when the facts started leaking out. Starting with the Jan 6th tapes that were released. First insurrection where many of the insurrectionists walked between the tethers in one door and out another of the Capitol building being ushered by the DC police. Guess you missed that portion completely? Wonder if Garland will ever have to answer for the DOJ prosecutors withholding evidence that would have lowered the sentences- or exonerated- those charged?
[deleted]
Trump is a peace of garbage. Brandon and [deleted sweeping generalizations]
I truthfully don't want Trump as President again.
But I will never vote for another Democrat after 8 years and counting of the shit they have put this country through.
Saw what i wanted...WTF R U talking about. I saw what the Hell happened in real time. I heard what a BIPARTISAN committee put forth and found it quite informative, perhaps ewe, and your gang of denial should try educating yourselves and not remaining in the Fox far Right insulated bubble. The clown demanding these files, led a damn tour of the Capitol the day before, and in this tour group, were damn rioting insurrectionists, that attacked the Capitol hours later.
So you believe the majority of personnel that Trump surrounded himself with would be DEMOCRATS ?
Again WTF ? Its not Rocket Science !
Why did democrats destroy evidence, why are you avoiding the question?
So you lack the proof to back up your statements.
Interesting how some deny what is right in front of them.
There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
Elise Stefanik was just saying that the former 'president' wasn't demented when he confused Haley with Pelosi. He did it on purpose.
We're still waiting on proof of your allegations. Iggy is telling the truth, he doesn't need to back up anything.
Prove Democrats ARE ? Your taking the word of a clown who gave rioting insurrectionists a grand tour hours before Riott !
If it's true, why do you think they would do that?
So they are wrong saying it was Pelosi who failed on securing the Capitol on 1/6, cause it was actually Haley's fault.
In reality both sgt of arms and the speakers of the house and senate have joint oversight, but the sgt of arms over the house ,stated it would've been bad optics, then under testimony said it didn't appear necessary. So no, it was NOT all on Pelosi, as she attempted to call for help. If they had watched the hearings, they would already know this.
Not even positive it is real yet. Loudermilk gave insurrectionists a tour on 1/5 , hours before riot took place, so hes not exactly a pristine witness bring forth these charges, and if true, how the hell would yu or i know ?
HOW is it irrelevant ?
They recovered the files. Now Tuberville (the one who led insurrectionists on a tour the day before 1/6) is now asking for the passwords, etc.
It isn't.
Plus this was reported on by the Daily Mail
[No dissing sources.]
Tuberville could have just made it up.
Okay, although I didn't see Tuberville mentioned in the article. Doesn't answer the question of, if true, why would they do that?
Tuberville found the alleged deleted documents and is asking for passwords.
Like Iggy said, how do we know it's true?
You do realize they were hand picked by Pelosi right? There were others that were appointed but Pelosi didn't want them on the committee.
Can you provide a citation as to Tuberville's involvement? Because, as I said, I don't see him mentioned in the articles I have read.
How do you know it's not?
Still no opinion on the question?
All these right wingers have are debunked conspiracy theories and nonsense.
The committee did not destroy or hide evidence.
Meanwhile, what happened with the 10,000 (or whatever it was) hours of video that were supposed to show it was peaceful? That shit sure died out fast.
That's an excellent question. What did happen with all that video?
My mistake - some other scummy republican, Loudermilk, was asking for the passwords, so many scummy republicans out there, I got confused.
I don't believe it - I'm sure the gop is just making it all up.
Sounds like a conspiracy theory or something....
No, not at all, I'm sure it was just a mistake by an intern or something along those lines.....
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Ask the Republican Speaker Of The House - he has it.
EXCLUSIVE : The former House Select Committee on Jan. 6 deleted more than 100 encrypted files from its probe just days before Republicans took over the majority in the House of Representatives, Fox News Digital has learned.
House Jan. 6 Committee deleted more than 100 encrypted files days before GOP took majority: sources (yahoo.com)
Both RINO's with known axes to grind regarding Trump.
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What about the pipe bomber, that planted a pipe bomb at the building where the Vice President of the United States was visiting?
arrest her or him
So you don't know anything about "her or him".
Where is your citation for citation for this allegation?
Its with your citations for your comments.
First all the links are from far right sights or "rag mag" sights like The Daily Mail. Next all they are doing is regurgitating what Loudermilk said on Fox News.
That isn't a revelation. It's an accusation with nothing to back it up yet. We'll see if this goes anywhere. So far House investigations don't have a good track record, including the Jan 6th one. It's ALL a clown show.
That's all these 'articles' and 'revelations' ever are - allegations that Faux 'news' reports as news.
There are reports that the records of the committee have disappeared as well. Wonder what they are covering up.
And we are seeing them in "Cover Your Ass" mode.
Horseshit.
Such intelligence in that. NOT.
They shouldn’t have to be. For nearly 2 1/2 centuries, Americans have justifiably taken pride in the peaceful transfer of power every time we elect a new Congress or President. But no more. Thanks to a mob of psychopathic maniacs, lost in the worship of one Donald Trump, we can no longer boast of being a superior government or culture. Democracy and the Constitution were not a priority for those people.
It’s kind of gaslighting to treat January 6, 2021 as a failure of the police. What it really was, was a failure of character on the part of every person who thought they could - or should - bully Congress into ignoring the Constitution to satisfy the partisan and juvenile desires of the MAGA hoard.
Historians will still be talking derogatorily about Jan 6 2021 a hundred years from now, assuming there still is an America.
Thank you so much. The whole premise of this 'article' is bogus,
What happened on 1/6 is unprecedented and some act as if an 'unknown' threat is imminent - where this threat was known - the former president and his magats.
P.S. When -not - if
Then why were 100 files deleted just before Republicans were to take over?
I don't believe it.
[deleted]
Sticking with alternative facts?
Ask some of our leftist members if it's true.
You may want to peruse this report...............
You were saying???
There's no real or actual proof of that - something someone alleged - with nothing to back it up and reported on Fox 'news' as if it was news and not the usual RWNJ lie.
See comment 4 and 4.2
Already did. Meaningless bullshit for those who don't want to hear the truth. You really should read the article I linked.
No, you didn't, and nope.
Yes, I did, and suit yourself.
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