Capitol Security Leaders Provide First Testimony On Events Of Jan. 6

February 25, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
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February 25, 2021

Today for the first time, current leaders of the relevant law enforcement entities — the Capitol police, sergeant at arms — will come before Congress to answer questions on the January 6 attack.

The hearing, before the Legislative Branch subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, is a complement to one held in the Senate on Tuesday where lawmakers got to grill the former Capitol police chief and sergeants at arms. The Senate hearing was replete with finger pointing and some GOP conspiracy theories, and left many questions unanswered on both the granular and big picture level.

The star witness in today’s hearing will likely be acting chief of Capitol Police Yogananda Pittman, who was elevated to replace the former chief who resigned under intense pressure. Pittman was assistant chief of police of the department’s protective & intelligence operations during the attack, which is specifically tasked with gathering intelligence on and investigating threats to members of Congress. During the Tuesday hearing, much of the security failures were blamed on intelligence lapses, something Pittman will probably be able to speak to with more insider knowledge.

Watch Live

What To Expect

The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. and include testimony from:

  • Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of Capitol police
  • Timothy Blodgett, acting House sergeant at arms

Things We're Listening For

  • Who/what/when details, especially pertaining to the National Guard and its seemingly delayed deployment
  • Any insight into what former President Trump was doing behind the scenes
  • Reference to the elephant in the room — during the Senate hearing, Republican lawmakers who helped incite the insurrection got off scot-free. We'll be listening for any remarks holding them accountable from their Democratic counterparts, along with any attempts to distance themselves either by playing down the attack or boosting conspiracy theories about it

This is the first time current officials in these roles will address Congress since the January 6 attack.

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Today for the first time, current leaders of the relevant law enforcement entities — the Capitol police, sergeant at arms — will come before Congress to answer questions on the January 6 attack.

The hearing, before the Legislative Branch subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, is a complement to one held in the Senate on Tuesday where lawmakers got to grill the former Capitol police chief and sergeants at arms. The Senate hearing was replete with finger pointing and some GOP conspiracy theories, and left many questions unanswered on both the granular and big picture level.

The star witness in today’s hearing will likely be acting chief of Capitol Police Yogananda Pittman, who was elevated to replace the former chief who resigned under intense pressure. Pittman was assistant chief of police of the department’s protective & intelligence operations during the attack, which is specifically tasked with gathering intelligence on and investigating threats to members of Congress. During the Tuesday hearing, much of the security failures were blamed on intelligence lapses, something Pittman will probably be able to speak to with more insider knowledge.

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