Capitol Police were instructed not to use their most aggressive tactics during the storming of the US Capitol on Jan. 6 despite advance warning about …
Capitol Police were instructed not to use their most aggressive tactics during the storming of the US Capitol on Jan.6 despite advance warning about the potential for violence, according to a scathing watchdog report that goes on to describe riot shields that shattered on impact, serious lapses in training and leadership, and weapons that were too old to fire. The 104-page report by Michael Bolton, the inspector general of the Capitol Police, is highly critical of how the department prepared and responded to the unrest carried out by hundreds of former President Donald Trump’s supporters as lawmakers met during a joint-session to certify the results in the 2020 presidential election. The document said an intelligence assessment from the Capitol Police warned three days before the riot that Trump’s supporters could turn to violence in their efforts to overturn the election results and target Congress. “Stop the Steal’s propensity to attract white supremacists, militia members, and others who actively promote violence may lead to a significantly dangerous situation for law enforcement and the general public alike,” the report says, according to the New York Times.
