Capitol police refused to accept assistance from the Pentagon and the Justice Department to counter the unrest ahead of the approval of the US election results, the Associated Press reported on Friday.
According to the agency, three days before the riots, the Pentagon offered the Capitol police assistance to the National Guard. When the riots had already begun, the leadership of the Ministry of Justice offered the police the help of FBI agents. But both times, the Capitol police refused to accept federal aid.
Despite numerous warnings of possible unrest, police hoped that only a peaceful demonstration would be possible on the day of the election results in the US Congress.
“We asked more than once, and the last answer we received on Sunday, 3rd (January), was that they would not ask the Ministry of Defense for help”, – the agency quotes the words of the assistant to the head of the Pentagon, Kenneth Rapuano.
According to informed sources of the agency, the offer of the Department of Justice to provide assistance to the FBI was also rejected.
On Wednesday, supporters of the incumbent US president burst into the US Capitol shortly after the rally where he spoke. A participant in the riots died from a gunshot wound, three more people died from causes not related to violence, the injured policeman died. The capitol suffered material damage. The riots delayed congressional approval of Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election.
Against this backdrop, Democratic leaders in the Senate have called for Trump’s impeachment or removal on a constitutional amendment on incapacity.