How Federal Response At Capitol Differed From June Protests

WASHINGTON, DC — Mayor Muriel Bowser noted a marked difference in the number of federal officers responding to the unrest Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol compared with the federal response to racial justice demonstrations last summer in the District.

In June, Bowser had criticized the large federal law enforcement presence in the city in response to racial justice demonstrations following the death of George Floyd. That presence culminated in federal officers forcing demonstrators out of Lafayette Square so President Donald Trump could have his photo taken in front of nearby church.

"I do think it bears mentioning that there is some difference in the federal response at Lafayette Square and at the United States Capitol," Bowser said during a Wednesday night news conference. "I think that we saw different types of vehicles used. We saw a different posture used in some cases. We did not see, for example, the deployment of those military personnel on the Capitol grounds."

Despite Bowser's criticism, there were federal forces on the ground Wednesday responding to the riot.

"Earlier this week, Mayor Bowser requested approximately 340 D.C. National Guardsmen to assist D.C. police in preparation for possible protests today," Jonathan Hoffman, chief Pentagon spokesman said, in a statement Wednesday. "That request was approved. Today, the mayor requested the full activation of the D.C. Guard to support local and federal law enforcement as they respond to the situation at the Capitol. That request was approved. There have been no other requests from the D.C. government."

As the federal law enforcement agency at the Capitol, the U.S. Capitol Police were the first forces to engage the rioters.

Chief Steven A. Sund said Wednesday's attack was like no other he had experienced in his 30 years of law enforcement in the District.

"Maintaining public safety in an open environment — specifically for First Amendment activities — has long been a challenge," Sund said in a statement. "The USCP had a robust plan established to address anticipated First Amendment activities. But make no mistake — these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal, riotous behavior."

Sund praised the actions and the dedication of his personnel. He also thanked the more than 18 state, local and federal law enforcement agencies and the National Guard who assisted them. During the attack, more than 50 Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers were injured, with several Capitol Police being hospitalized with serious injuries, authorities said.

A Capitol Police employee discharged their service weapon Wednesday, fatally wounding Ashli Babbitt of Huntington, Maryland. Sund said the employee has been placed on administrative leave and their police powers have been suspended, pending an internal investigation by MPD and USCP.

MPD identified three other people who died on Capitol grounds Wednesday due to medical emergencies: Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Georgia; Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama; and Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania.

An apparent disparity in response between June and Wednesday is not just limited to federal law enforcement. Metropolitan Police Department reported making 69 arrests Wednesday afternoon and overnight. During the four days of protests in June, the department made 427 arrests with 289 arrests on June 1 alone.

On Wednesday, MPD also recovered two pipe bombs, one from Democratic National Committee headquarters and another from Republican National Committee headquarters. In addition, police recovered a cooler with a long gun and Molotov cocktails from the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

NEW: DC Police made 69 arrests between yesterday afternoon and overnight for "unrest-related" offenses

Compare to 289 arrests on June 1 during BLM protests following George Floyd's death (total of 427 arrests during four-day protest) pic.twitter.com/D6j0NL4KBC
— John Kruzel (@johnkruzel) January 7, 2021

Bowser and her public safety team briefed the public around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday about the city's response to rioters breaching police lines at the U.S. Capitol, forcing members of Congress to postpone the certification of the 2020 election results. Congress returned to the Capitol later in the evening and certified the results early Thursday morning, clearing the way for President-Elect Joe Biden to be sworn in at his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Chief Robert Contee of the Metropolitan Police Department was asked if his officers had been showing restraint early on Wednesday night in enforcing the curfew compared with how the department enforced curfews back in June.

"We had to contain the situation that we were dealing with," Contee said of MPD's response Wednesday night at the Capitol. "At the moment that we were able to contain the situation, then members were able to start effecting arrests. The initial arrests for the curfew violation as well as the unlawful activity at the Capitol, we started with arrests there and then we started methodically moving out from the Capitol, making arrests and going on."

Contee said MPD and its public safety partners, including the Capitol Police, had several planning meetings leading up to the riot at the Capitol.

MPD received a call from Capitol Police for assistance a little before 1 p.m. Wednesday, when a significant number of people were trying to breach the fence at the Capitol, Contee said. Platoons of MPD officers were immediately deployed to the scene.

“For the city’s response, in terms of how the Metropolitan Police Department deployed its officers, I’m very comfortable with that,” Contee said. “I think we’ll all look back to examine the different plans that were in place, the coordination, what U.S. Capitol Police plans, what they were. Certainly, there was an agreement if there was any assistance that was needed, MPD would answer that call and we did that today. We answered the call.”

Bowser said the D.C. government will work with its law enforcement partners to maintain security at the Capitol.

"We are focused, however, right now on making sure that the members can do their work, that the additional assistance that's coming in is being primarily deployed so that the Capitol and its grounds can be secured by the United States Capitol Police and the resources under the D.C. National Guard," Bowser said.

In addition, the mayor said that the city will continue to work with situational planners in Congress and at the White House to ensure that the Jan. 20 inauguration takes place safely.

The FBI is seeking the public's help in identifying anyone who was involved with instigating the violent in D.C. on Wednesday. The public can submit information, photos or videos online.

Also see ...

• Updated: 4 Die At US Capitol; Bowser Extends Public Emergency
• Metro Service To Close Early Due To Curfew
• Trump Mob Breaches Capitol; 1 Shot In Melee; Biden Decries Riot