Several United States Capitol Police officers have been suspended for their behavior during last week’s deadly pro-Donald Trumpriot in Washington, D.C.
Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said in astatementon Monday that the suspensions came after the department reviewed video and other source materials of USCP officers and officials that “appear to be in violation of Department regulations and policies” during the riot.
“Our Office of Professional Responsibility will investigate these behaviors for disciplinary action, up to, and including, termination,” Pittman said.
During aZoom callwith reporters earlier on Monday, Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who chairs one of the committees that oversees the Capitol Police, claimed that two USCP officers were suspended. One allegedly took a selfie with a member of the pro-Trump mob during the insurrection, while the other wore a “Make America Great Again” hat and started directing people around the building, Ryan said.
Ryan, 47, also said that there are between 10 and 15 USCP officers under investigation, though he did not share any additional information about the extent of the investigations.
U.S. Capitol building breached.Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty
Trump supporters clash with police at the Capitol on Wednesday.JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty
The violence on Jan. 6 led to thedeaths of five people,including Capitol Police officerOfficer Brian D. Sicknick, 42, who died at 9:30 p.m. Thursday from injuries he sustained “while physically engaging with protesters” during the rampage.
Just one day after the riots, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sundsubmitted his letter of resignation, informing the members of the Capitol Police Board that his resignation will go into effect on Jan. 16.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had called for the firing of Sund in the wake of a violent riot at the Capitol. During apress conferenceon Thursday, Pelosi claimed that Sund “hasn’t even called” since the act of insurrection.
“There was a failure of leadership at the top of the Capitol Police,” Pelosi said.
Steven Sund (right).Tom Williams/Getty Images
According to the Capitol Police, more than 50 officers from the department and Metropolitan Police Department sustained injuries, while several of them were “hospitalized with serious injuries.”
“The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C.,” Sund said in a previous statement, adding, “Make no mistake – these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal riotous behavior.”
source: people.com
