Top US Capitol security officials apologised on Tuesday for “failings” during the deadly attack on the building by followers of former President Donald Trump in a bid to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory.
The officials specifically acknowledged several missteps; conflicting intelligence, inadequate preparation and insufficient mobilisation of partner agencies, and called for improving accountability systems and communications structures.
“I am here to offer my sincerest apologies on behalf of the Department,” said Yogananda Pittman, the acting chief of Capitol Police, according to a prepared statement for the US House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee.
"Let me be clear: the Department should have been more prepared for this attack," Ms Pittman said.
"By January 4th, the Department knew that the January 6th event would not be like any of the previous protests held in 2020. We knew that militia groups and white supremacists organisations would be attending. We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event."
“The Department failed to meet its own high standards as well as yours,” she added.
Ms Pittman said many of the officers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after the assault on 6 January in which five people died, including one Capitol police officer.
Ms Pittman said the death of a second officer was indirectly linked.
She and Timothy Blodgett, the acting US House of Representatives’ sergeant at arms, said security officials were working to do more to boost protection of the US Capitol, the seat of government.
Pro-Trump supporters stormed the building following Mr Trump’s urgings at a rally near the White House to go to the Capitol.
Mr Trump was impeached by the House on a charge of incitement and the trial in the Senate is scheduled for February.
Supporters of Donald Trump climbing the west wall of the US Capitol in Washington during the 6 January riot. Source: AP
The then-chiefs of the Capitol Police and House sergeant at arms stepped down.
In the weeks since the attack, security has been heightened around the Capitol and in Washington in general, with a 2.5-metre fence surrounding the perimeter and National Guard troops brought in for Mr Biden’s inauguration on 20 January.
Some 5,000 National Guard troops will remain in Washington until the middle of March.
