Capitol Officers Blast Republicans for Fighting a 1/6 Investigation, Suggest Lawmakers Would Be Dead If Not for Them

A favorite Republican talking point is that Republicans care about the police while Democrats just want to burn everything down and live in a lawless society. Of course, that claim withers under even the slightest scrutiny, the most recent example being the GOP’s response to the attack on the Capitol on January 6.

For more than four months now, many Republican lawmakers have excused, downplayed, and rewritten what actually occurred that day, in an obvious attempt to let Donald Trump escape responsibility. Among other things, various lawmakers have claimed that the attempted coup wasn’t an “armed” attack (it was), that the individuals who violently broke into the Capitol were “peaceful patriots” (they weren’t), and that the insurrection looked like “a normal tourist visit” (what tourist visit in hell??). All of this is deeply disturbing to people who think truth still matters, and it’s especially disturbing to the police who were protecting lawmakers that day and are justifiably pretty pissed.

In a scathing letter released by Rep. Jamie Raskin’s office, members of the Capitol Police, writing anonymously for fear of retribution, blast Republicans for refusing to support a bipartisan investigation into the riot, in particular calling out House and Senate minority leaders Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell, who themselves have lied about the attack and let Trump get off consequence-free. Saying it is “unconscionable to even think anyone could suggest we need to move forward” and just “get over” what happened, express “profound disappointment” in both chambers’ minority leaders for insisting there is no need for a January 6 commission. They add:

On January 6th where some officers served their last day in a U.S. Capitol Police uniform, and not by choice, we would hope that the Members whom we took an oath to protect, would at the very minimum, support an investigation to get to the bottom of EVERYONE responsible and hold them 100 percent accountable no matter the title or position they hold or held.

It is inconceivable that some of the Members we protect would downplay the events of January 6th. Member safety was dependent upon the heroic actions of USCP. It is a privileged assumption for Members to have the point of view that “it wasn’t that bad.” That privilege exists because the brave men and women of the USCP protected you, the Members.

Lastly, with each passing week, a new revelation about January 6th reveals itself. A new indictment comes to light, another newsreel of USCP officers being assaulted is released, or some breaking news regarding “somebody’s” involvement. With these constant reminders, it is unconscionable to even think anyone could suggest we need to move forward and get over it. Unfortunately this letter comes to you anonymously because as U.S. Capitol Officers, we are expected to remain neutral and do our jobs with honor and integrity. It’s unfortunate that our “bosses” (Congress) are not held to the same standard that we, the USCP are. 

Following the publication of the letter, a spokesperson for USPC stressed to reporter Olivia Beavers that the document was not an official statement from the law enforcement agency, adding “The U.S. Capitol Police does NOT take positions on legislation.”

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