A barbed wire fence near the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 18
On Friday (Feb. 19), Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said in a statement that “our Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the actions of 35 officers on Jan. 6” , six of whom are currently suspended with pay.
“Any member who does not comply with the department’s rules of conduct will face appropriate disciplinary action,” the statement said.
Officials did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation. It comes after video showed police officers standing still as some groups entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. Some of those who entered the building said police allowed them to enter the building. Additional video from the scene confirms that officers dressed as police officers led a group of black-clad intruders around the Capitol.
In January, two police officers were suspended from the department, according to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tim Ryan (R-Wis.). A police officer took a selfie with one of the protesters.
Some Capitol Police Department leadership reportedly resigned after the Jan. 6 police violation. Earlier this week, the union cast an overwhelming vote of “no confidence” in acting Police Chief Pittman, who became head of the department two days after the Capitol incident. The union said about 97 percent voted “no confidence” in Capitol Police Chief Ben Smith.
On Jan. 6, some demonstrators dressed as Trump supporters broke into the Capitol, causing a commotion. The incident resulted in several deaths. Some organizations said that on the day of the incident, officers dressed as police officers led the demonstrators into the building, and that some of those who stormed the Capitol were identified as left-wing activists and members of Black Lives Matter-affiliated organizations.
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