U.S. Capitol Police said “several” officers have been suspended following the siege of Congress.
Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman released a statement on Monday detailing how the force is responding to the violence on Wednesday, when rioters breached the U.S. Capitol building as lawmakers were certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
Capitol Police are “actively reviewing video and other open source materials of some USCP officers and officials that appear to be in violation of department regulations and policies. Our office of professional responsibility will investigate these behaviors for disciplinary action, up to, and including, termination. Several USCP officers have already been suspended pending the outcome of their investigations,” Pittman said.
Rep. Tim Ryan told reporters that two Capitol Police officers had been suspended for misconduct during the riots. He claimed that one officer was suspended for taking a selfie with rioters and another for wearing a MAGA hat.
The Democrat from Ohio also said one officer had been arrested, but his office later told CNN’s Manu Raju that the congressman misspoke.
Pittman, who took over as acting chief following the resignation of Steven Sund after the storming of the Capitol, did not specify the reasons for the officers’ suspensions.
“The investigation of the January 6 riot is continuing in collaboration with numerous law enforcement agencies and the USCP, along with its law enforcement partners are aggressively working to identify and arrest those involved in the destruction of property at the U.S. Capitol Complex,” she said. “It is our intention to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
One Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, died due to injuries he sustained while engaging with the rioters.
Author : Haley Victory Smith
Source : Washington Examiner : ‘Several’ Capitol Police officers suspended following Capitol siege
