U.S. Park Police radio recordings show that officers were overwhelmed by
Donald Trump-supporting mobs in Washington hours before the
violent breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Even before Trump whipped the crowd into a frenzy at a pre-riot rally on the National Mall, cops radioed that they were overwhelmed by mobs and by people they suspected were armed at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, and were unable to check numerous unattended bags for bombs or weapons. Hours later,
pipe bombs were discovered in similar bags in front of the Republican and Democratic national committee headquarters.
The recordings, obtained Thursday by the watchdog group
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, renew questions of why law enforcement was so unprepared for the violence at the Capitol building hours later. The recordings also contrast the stunning lack of preparedness on Jan. 6 with the
violent law enforcement response to peaceful
Black Lives Matter protesters in nearby
Lafayette Square months earlier to make way for Trump to pose with a Bible in front of a church.
Seven hours of recordings “make it abundantly clear that [the Park Police were]
unprepared for the threat of a riot, lacking manpower, plans and supplies,” the watchdog group said in a statement.
U.S. Park Police radio recordings raise new questions about why law enforcement was so unprepared for Jan. 6 violence.
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