As thousands of Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol on January 6 in a bid to halt the certification of the Electoral College results, dozens of DC National Guard troops were forced to remain on standby, despite the disturbing events that were unfolding. The hourslong delay has largely been blamed on failed communication among senior leadership.
The US Department of Defense took more than three hours to approve a deployment of the DC National Guard to the deadly riot at the US Capitol, the commanding general of the DC unit revealed during a Wednesday hearing.
Maj. Gen. William Walker told senators at a congressional hearing that it took officials at the Pentagon approximately 3 hours and 19 minutes to issue a required approval from then-acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller.
“At 1:49 p.m. I received a frantic call from then-Chief of US Capitol Police, Steven Sund, where he informed me that the security perimeter at the Capitol had been breached by hostile rioters,” Walker told the Senate Homeland and Rules committees in a joint hearing.
“Chief Sund, his voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency on Capitol Hill and requested the immediate assistance of as many Guardsmen as I could muster.”
Awaiting the approval, Walker told lawmakers that he had ordered National Guard troops onto buses so that the unit would be ready to move out at a moment’s notice. Once the permission was given, forces arrived at the scene in less than 20 minutes.
Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
“We could have helped extend the perimeter and helped push back the crowd,” he stressed.
Walker’s testimony also backed up earlier revelations that he was barred from deploying any forces himself, unless he was first granted explicit approval by then-Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. The DC commander described the sudden change as “unusual.”
Additionally, Walker stated senior leadership, particularly Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt and Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, were hesitant about deploying the Guard over concerns about how it would look to the American public to send troops to the scene.
Once troops finally arrived at the Capitol, they were able to reestablish a security perimeter at the east side of the building, ultimately helping lawmakers to return to the congressional chamber and resume the certification of the US election results.
Increased Threat of Domestic Terror Likely to Go Into 2022
Wednesday’s proceedings also saw testimony be given by Jill Sanborn, the FBI’s assistant director of the counterterrorism division, among other officials asked to give their recount of the January 6 events.
Sanborn told lawmakers that investigators have determined that racially-motivated extremists and anti-government extremists would more than likely become the biggest domestic threats the US may face going into 2022.
The FBI official’s remarks came as law enforcement in the nation’s capital has been on high alert over concerns that an “unidentified militia group” may attempt to “breach the Capitol” on Thursday.
The US Capitol Police revealed earlier on Wednesday that the agency had obtained information supporting the reports. “We are taking this intelligence seriously,” the force said in a release.
National Guard troops have remained in Washington, DC, since the Capitol unrest in an effort to ensure calm and safety in the region. Local station Fox 5 previously reported that the Guard may stay until the fall.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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