Three House Republicans are looking to hold a series of hearings concerning the U.S. Capitol Police Board in the wake of the lapses that contributed to the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.
The Republicans cited recent testimony by U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Inspector General Michael Bolton, who, according to the letter, said the board “is in desperate need of reform.”
“The events of January 6th highlighted significant problems with the CPB’s structure and responsibilities. When warranted, the CPB has the serious responsibility to make the decision to declare an emergency, a determination required to authorize the USCP Chief to call in the National Guard,” the congressmen wrote. “However, on January 6th, the CPB’s bureaucratic structure and partisan membership crippled its rapid response capabilities and decision-making abilities, and the United States Capitol Complex remained in chaos and without National Guard assistance for hours.
“Further, it is clear from email correspondence uncovered by this Committee that the Architect of the Capitol, who makes up one-third of the voting membership of the CPB, was left out of key security decisions, a recurring problem for the CPB.”
Lofgren didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.
The three-member Capitol Police Board consists of the sergeant at arms of the U.S. House of Representatives, the sergeant at arms and doorkeeper of the U.S. Senate, and the architect of the Capitol. The chief of the Capitol Police serves as an ex-officio member.
Then-USCP Chief Steven Sund said that the House and Senate sergeants at arms, both of whom have since resigned, rejected his requests for National Guard reinforcements because they were concerned with the optics of a formal announcement.
