Six police officers to be punished for Capitol assault conduct
Washington, Sep 11 (EFE).- The Capitol Police in Washington announced Saturday it had recommended taking disciplinary measures against six agents for their January conduct during the Congress assault, while another 20 had their investigations dropped.
In a statement, the Capitol Police explained the results of their investigation into alleged cases of inappropriate conduct by agents destined to protect Congress during the Jan. 6 assault on the building by a mob of supporters of then-United States President Donald Trump.
The agency opened 38 internal investigations after receiving complaints of alleged negligence, and identified the police officers involved in 26 of the cases.
It said “there was no negligence” in 20 of them, while in the case of another six policemen, whom it did not identify, a “disciplinary action” was recommended, the nature of which it did not specify either.
Three of the six agents will be sanctioned for their “inappropriate behavior,” while another will be punished for their “failure to comply with orders,” a fifth for “inappropriate statements” and a sixth for “inappropriate distribution of information,” the statement read.
The Capitol Police said the US Attorney General’s office for the Capitol “did not find sufficient evidence that any of the officers committed a crime.”
The police said they have yet to resolve a final internal investigation into an agent accused of both “unsatisfactory behavior” and “improper conduct.”
The police response to the assault on the Capitol drew criticism, especially after videos were released showing some officers apparently removing protective barriers around the building and taking photos with members of the mob. It is not clear whether sanctions are related. to those cases.
Other policemen have been praised for their heroism, with seven of those attacked that day suing Trump in August, whom they accused of having incited violence with his unfounded statements about electoral fraud.
Authorities estimate about 10,000 people marched Jan. 6 to the Capitol and about 800 stormed into the building to prevent Biden’s victory from being ratified.
Five people were killed and about 140 officers were attacked by pro-Trump protesters.
About 550 people have been indicted on charges related to the January assault, including 165 people charged with crimes of assault on authorities. EFE
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