Capitol Tour Video Raises Concerns into Jan. 6 Riot, NJ Lawmaker Says

WASHINGTON — A New Jersey lawmaker's claim that some of her Republican colleagues helped Jan. 6 rioters find their way through the Capitol gained new credence Wednesday from the House Select Committee.

The panel released footage of a constituent tour led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk — a Georgia Republican — the day before the 2021 attempted coup. A week after the attack on the Capitol, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and 33 other House members called for an investigation into the "extremely high number of groups" inside the Capitol Complex on Jan. 5, 2021.

The Capitol Police reviewed footage related to a Jan. 5 visit from Loudermilk's constituents but said Tuesday that there was "no evidence" that Loudermilk entered the Capitol with the group that day. Rep. Rodney Davis, the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, took that as proof that Loudermilk "did not take anyone on a reconnaissance tour."

• Related article: Jan. 6 Hearing Recounts NJ Native, Cop Defending U.S. Capitol

But the House panel has more questions about the Jan. 5 visits, showing surveillance footage Wednesday of Loudermilk's tour. Portions of the video show a man using his phone to photograph "areas of the complex not typically of interest to tourists, including hallways, staircases, and security checkpoints," according to the video.

Those shots were juxtaposed with a Facebook Live video, said to be shot by the same man, as he and angry protesters approached the Capitol.

"There's no escape, Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler," the man says, referring to prominent Democratic lawmakers.

Sherrill made the following statement after the Jan. 6 committee released information on the tour:

"I have served our country as a federal prosecutor, and I know how important it is to investigate and collect evidence and to let that process run its course. The video evidence released today by the bipartisan January 6th committee, combined with the constantly shifting narrative and misdirection from Representatives Barry Loudermilk and Rodney Davis, calls into question their dedication to our common oath as Members of Congress.

"I remain committed to supporting this investigation into January 6th, so we ensure it never happens again."

Loudermilk has called suspicions that he led a reconnaissance tour "verifiably false," citing Capitol Police findings that nothing suspicious occurred.

"As Capitol Police confirmed, nothing about this visit with constituents was suspicious," Loudermilk tweeted Wednesday. "The pictures show children holding bags from the House gift shop, which was open to visitors, and taking pictures of the Rayburn train."

So far, Loudermilk has declined interviews with the Jan. 6 committee. He hasn't been subpoenaed, and there isn't evidence that he knew any of the tour participants would be outside the Capitol the next day. But House Committee Chair Bennie Thompson insinuated that more occurred than what Loudermilk claims.

"Based on our review of surveillance video, social media activity, and witness accounts, we understand you led a tour group through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021," Thompson wrote. "That group stayed for several hours, despite the complex being closed to the public on that day."

Along with the surveillance video, the panel released a video of an unidentified man walking toward the Capitol on Jan. 6, holding a flagpole that appears to have a sharp end, which he says is "for a certain person." The committee says the man who filmed that video, who laughed and urged on the man with the flag, was a tour participant who took photos inside the Capitol the day before.

Later footage from the same man shows people approaching the Capitol. The man filming the video makes apparent threats toward Democratic lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

"They’re coming in, coming in like white on rice for Pelosi, Nadler, even you, AOC," the man says in the video the committee released. "We’re coming to take you out and pull you out by your hairs."

The panel didn't say whether the man got into the Capitol or faced any charges. More than 800 people have been charged for breaking into the building as Congress met to certify Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. But thousands of other protesters outside the building or on the National Mall didn't engage in violence.

The select committee began public hearings last week into the attack inspired by false claims that then-President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Following public hearings, the panel expects to release a report of its findings in September — before the midterm elections.