“I believe that the US Capitol Police are a stronger force,” said US Capitol security chief.
Washington:
The US Congress’s police chief and attorney general reassured Americans on Wednesday that they had resolved the security fallout behind the January 6 attack on Congress – even as anger grew. Anger and conspiracy theories fuel the uprising stronger than ever.
On the eve of the first anniversary, the head of security at the Capitol, Thomas Manger, said his forces would not be arrested if they were not prepared again, like when thousands of Donald Trump’s supporters into Congress to try to block Joe Biden’s endorsement. presidential victory.
“I strongly believe that the United States Congressional Police is a stronger, better prepared law enforcement agency,” Manger told a Senate hearing, recalling the desperate struggle that his officers were up against “a much larger and violent mob.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland will then lay out efforts to “hold those responsible” for the mayhem and highlight “law enforcement’s unwavering commitment to protecting Americans and American democracy,” the Justice Department said.
Still, despite hundreds of criminal investigations into the unrest, reshuffled Capitol police and stockpiling of riot gear in the event of any repeat attacks, Biden will deliver a keynote address. importance of celebration on Thursday knowing that much of the country still celebrates the uprising.
Highlighting serious political divisions, senior Republicans are likely to skip celebrations hosted by the Democratic-led Congress on Thursday, including Biden’s speech inside. Sculpture building and a prayer service.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is set to be away from Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the funeral of the late senator Johnny Isakson, his office said.
Trump himself continues to make the lie that the 2020 election was stolen by Biden — a conspiracy theory that has been dismissed in numerous court conclusions and recounts. He had planned a press conference at his Florida home to steal the limelight on Thursday, but abruptly abandoned the plan in a statement Tuesday, however went on to claim that the the 2020 election is a “crime”.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will speak from inside the Capitol, set in a time of uncertainty with almost unbelievable scenes as Trump supporters battle former police to invade the heart of the population. owner of the United States last year.
“He’s going to talk about the historic significance of January 6, what it means to the country a year later,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
‘Hand in hand’
In his testimony, Manger paid tribute to the well-prepared officers as they tried to confront angry Trump supporters who overcame police barricades, smashing doors. windows to get into the Capitol, then roam the halls, vandalizing the office and the room itself.
For hours as the struggle raged, lawmakers fled to safety or hid behind barricaded doors. Trump’s vice-president, Mike Pence, who was on Capitol Hill to preside over Biden’s victory, fled when the attackers chanted “hang Mike Pence.”
Police “revealed resilience, courage, and fortitude beyond imagination. Together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, they fought under conditions that would not allow the police to carry out their duties.” in four decades of law enforcement, I’ve never seen one,” Manger said.
“Their eyes were swollen by the continuous rounds of tear gas and bear spray, their bodies were attacked and beaten with bricks, flagpoles, rebar, pipes, bats, sticks, cones,” he said. and other weapons, they fought for more than four hours,” he said.
“Fighting hand-to-hand, using incredible dexterity and bravery, they did not give up. Congress was able to do its job and not a single Member or staff member was harmed. physically.”
‘Never happend’
While Trump is withdrawing from the public eye on the anniversary itself, he said he will return to the issue at a planned rally in Arizona on January 15.
Despite losing to Biden by more than seven million votes, Trump continues to assert that he is the real winner in 2020.
The statement is just the most pressing element of a broader attack against Biden on everything from immigration to Covid-19, all plus what looks like an unpublished effort. to regain power in 2024.
It was a campaign that Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, called “unprecedented in American history.”
“No former president has tried to do so much to discredit his successor and the democratic process,” Tobias said.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
