Supervisors denied Capitol Police chief’s request for National Guard help [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• USCP chief Steven Sund now sounds off following the violence that erupted in the capital.
• The chief of police said he asked the supervisors of House and Senate security for authorization in calling the National Guard to provide auxiliary forces.
• Sund has since stepped down from his post following the mob riot that erupted at the Capitol.

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) chief who led during the previous week’s deadly violence has reportedly requested his superiors in advance for authorization to ask that D.C. National Guard is ready if the circumstances get worse, but was rejected.

During an interview with The Washington Post, Steven Sund, who tendered his resignation as of Friday, disclosed the appeal to his supervisors this week. He explained if the National Guard was there during the demonstration, they could have contained the situation longer until auxiliary law enforcers arrive.

The outlet reports that on the previous day before the riot, Sund sought House and Senate security officers for consent to call the Guard to be activated on standby if the situation requires a hasty backup. 

Sund told the paper that House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving declined the proposal because he allegedly not comfortable with the impression such response would create ahead of Wednesday’s protest.

He added that Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger advised him that he must call his connections at the Guard and request them to be ready.

Sund said he complied with Stenger’s guidance and got in touched with the chief of D.C. National Guard that evening, who allegedly said the agency will be prepared with 125 people that are ready for deployment.

The USPC chief then informed Stenger and Irving and on that data on Tuesday and the Senate Sergeant at Arms explained the reserve, including those who were from the Metropolitan Police, appears to sufficient.

Like Sund, both Irving and Stenger have since stepped down from their positions following the Capitol violence.

The National Guard did finally went on Wednesday at the Capitol,  but their time of arrival at 5:40 p.m. was late as security was already compromised and four people lost their lives.

Pentagon authorities said last week that Capitol Police did not ask D.C. National Guard for support before Wednesday and later sent an immediate request as the pro-Trump rioters were on the threshold of breaking in the Capitol building.

Jonathan Hoffman, a Pentagon spokesperson, cleared up that the agency depends on Capitol Police and national law enforcement to update the valuation of the actual circumstances, adding that at the time, they expected their forces will be enough.

Following the riots, the USCP has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, due to its response to the riots.  They were able to protect Vice President Mike Pence,  all 99 Senators, journalists, and staff out of the Senate Chamber.

Source: Fox News