Not Trump's Fault: Investigators Said Jan 6th Riot Was "Planned Attack"
By Kenny WebsterFeb 24, 2021
We've been telling you this since January: Donald Trump's speech did not incite a riot.
The riot was already going to happen.
And the FBI knew.
Emily Zanotti reports:
The January 6th riot at the United States Capitol was planned and coordinated — and not a spur-of-the-moment attack — law enforcement officials in charge of the response told Congress Tuesday.
Several officials testified Tuesday at a Senate committee hearing dissecting the events leading up to the January 6th riot as well as the law enforcement response in an effort to outline how dozens of protesters were able to break through the Capitol’s front doors and get within inches of working lawmakers.
Democrats have been working with the theory that President Donald Trump, who appeared at a “Stop the Steal” rally the morning of January 6th, “incited” the crowd to march to the U.S. Capitol and disrupt a planned vote to certify the results of the Electoral College, making Joe Biden the official winner of the November presidential election.
Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger, former House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving, and Metropolitan Police Department acting chief Robert Contee all testified that they witnessed incidents on January 6th that made it clear the attack was “planned” and “coordinated” days if not weeks ahead of January 6th.
Sund even suggested that rioters had studied Capitol Police strategy and knew the building’s weak points.
“These people came specifically with equipment. You’re bringing climbing gear to a demonstration, explosives, chemical spray – you’re coming prepared,” Sund said. “The fact that the group attacked our West Front 20 minutes before the event at the Ellipse ended – they were planning on our agency not being at full strength at that time.”
“I think there was a significant coordination with this attack,” he added.
Contee, Fox News adds, “also said rioters used ‘hand signals and radio communication,’ as well as a ‘coordinated use’ of chemicals.”
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A protester is seen inside the US Capitol Building on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. Pro-Trump protesters entered the U.S. Capitol building during demonstrations in the nation's capital. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
