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As protesters became a growing threat to the Capitol on January 6, Mr. Sund called for more help from federal agencies and law enforcement in the region. “He also lobbied the Council for permission to bring in the National Guard, but he did not get permission for over an hour,” she said.
Two of the board members at the time of the attack had already resigned, Paul D. Irving, House Sergeant-at-Arms, and Michael C. Stenger, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. The third member, J. Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, remains on the board. Mr Blanton was appointed by Mr Trump in December 2019 and confirmed by the Senate the same month. The Capitol Chief of Police is an ex officio member without the right to vote.
“In my experience, I don’t think there were any preparations that would have allowed for an open campus in which legitimate protesters could exercise their First Amendment freedom of speech and at the same time prevent the attack on the Capitol grounds that day, ”Ms. Pittman said.
In the aftermath of the attack, many officers suffered from PTSD, she said, “especially after the direct and indirect loss of two of our officers as a result of the events of January 6. Agents have also seen an increase in coronavirus infections.
During the briefing, Acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy P. Blodgett also said it was “clear that there had been a failure to prepare”, citing communications mediocre and weak defense of the perimeter of the Capitol.
“Whether it is insufficient or confrontational intelligence, an insufficient capacity to translate this intelligence into action, insufficient preparation or an inadequate capacity to mobilize partner agencies for immediate assistance, a series of he events, once considered unfathomable, have taken place to break through our most sacred rooms. Mr. Blodgett said.
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