Disturbing Chain of Events Makes Damning Case That January 6 Was Allowed to Happen

Steven Sund, the former Chief of the Capitol Police, was left in the dark in the crucial days leading up to January 6. This communication breakdown, whether intentional or unintentional, hamstrung the response to January 6:

• Before January 6, regular conference calls were hosted by Metropolitan Police. No intelligence was shared about potential threats to the Capitol or harm to Congress members or police officers.

• On January 5, around 1:00 p.m., A conference call coordinated by Steven Sund, the Chief of Capitol Police, included leaders from the Metropolitan Police Department, Steven D’Antuono (Director of the FBI’s Washington Field Office), General Omar Jones (Military District of Washington), and General William Walker (Head of the National Guard). No one on the call expressed concerns about the intelligence or potential threats. The head of the Metropolitan Police Department also did not receive specific threat notifications.

• However, a Senate report released in July revealed that Steve D’Antuono received multiple emails on Sunday (January 3), Monday (January 4), and possibly Tuesday (January 5) about potential violence at the Capitol. This was not communicated to the Chief of Capitol Police during their video call.

• The U.S. military, including Acting Secretary of Defense Miller and General Milley, discussed the possibility of locking down Washington, D.C., due to concerns about violence. Despite concerns, Miller issued a memo on January 4 restricting the National Guard from carrying weapons or civil disobedience equipment for January 5 and 6. This affected the National Guard in Virginia and Maryland.

• On January 6, as violence erupted, the Chief of Capitol Police sought assistance, but the National Guard’s response was initially restricted due to the January 4 memo. Governor Hogan of Maryland also expressed frustration at being denied permission to respond by the Pentagon.