How the U.S. Capitol Police were overrun in a monumental security failure
Peter Hermann, Carol D. Leonnig, Aaron C. Davis and David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post
Jan. 7, 2021
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WASHINGTON - Inside the U.S. Capitol, the rioters were in charge.
Trump supporters were roaming freely, carrying off furniture. Capitol Police had not asked other law enforcement agencies for help until their building was surrounded by a mob seeking to overturn the election results. Now, their officers were exhausted and injured. Their chief was down the street, in the department command center, and a police commander on the scene was pacing in a circle. Top congressional leaders, hidden in secure rooms, were calling the governors of Maryland and Virginia directly to plead for help.
The Pentagon placed significant restrictions on the District of Columbia Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests this week, putting the District s military force
"What s most concerning is the lack of preparation here," the DC National Guard member said. "I don t know who in the chain of command dropped the ball. There was no plan and we were not in position