Senator Johnson Continues to Seek Answers About Capitol Breach, Sends Senate Leaders Unanswered Questions to be Addressed

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent a letter Wednesday to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ranking Member Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) highlighting unanswered questions that must be addressed regarding the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol breach.  These questions are in addition to the Jan. 21, 2021 letters Sen. Johnson sent to the acting and former Senate and House sergeants at arms.

The Jan. 21, 2021 letters to the acting and former Senate and House sergeants at arms are available here.

A copy of the Feb. 24, 2021 letter is available here and below:

February 24, 2021

The Honorable Gary C. Peters

Chairman

Senate Committee on Homeland Security

and Governmental Affairs

The Honorable Rob Portman

Ranking Member

Senate Committee on Homeland Security

and Governmental Affairs

The Honorable Amy Klobuchar

Chairwoman

Senate Committee on Rules

and Administration

The Honorable Roy Blunt

Ranking Member

Senate Committee on Rules

and Administration

Dear Chairs Peters and Klobuchar and Ranking Members Portman and Blunt:

As the committees continue to examine the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach, it is important that we completely reconstruct what happened from all perspectives and vantage points.  All security-related questions as well as details about the breach and violent actions must be addressed and fully explained.  On January 21, 2021 I wrote to the acting and former Senate and House sergeant at arms to obtain information on the security planning and level of security provided for the January 6 Joint Session of Congress.  I was disappointed that neither of the former sergeant at arms seemed to be aware of my oversight letters, but I will continue to seek answers to the questions raised in those letters.

I appreciate the hearing that the committees held yesterday. Unfortunately, time limitations prevented many questions from being asked that I believe are fundamental to the investigation.

To assist you in your efforts to lead the committees’ examination of what happened on January 6, I am enclosing the unanswered questions—that are in addition to the questions in my January 21 letters—that I believe must be addressed:

1. How many law enforcement officers:

a. manned the perimeter at the Capitol;

b. manned the Capitol’s entrances;

c. manned the interior of the Capitol building;

d. were fully outfitted with riot gear;

e. partially outfitted with riot gear; and

f. had no protective or riot gear?

2. The committees should obtain a full description of the violent confrontations that occurred at the Capitol on January 6 including, but not limited to:

a. Where and when did violent confrontations occur?

a. How long did each confrontation last?

b. Approximately how many individuals engaged in violent acts?

c. At what time did the last violent confrontation end?

3. How many firearms were seen and/or confiscated from individuals inside the Capitol building or on the Capitol grounds on January 6?

4. How many gunshots were fired at the Capitol on January 6:

a. by law enforcement?

b. by rioters?

5. When did the U.S. Capitol Police begin to clear the Capitol building on January 6?

a. Reports indicate that the sergeant at arms said that the Capitol was secure at 5:34 p.m. on January 6.[1]  Was this the same time that the Capitol was completely cleared? If not, when did that occur?

6. What did law enforcement reestablish the security perimeter at the Capitol?

7. What groups were involved in planning or coordinating the breach of the Capitol?

a. How many members of each group were involved in the breach?

b. How many members of each group have been arrested or charged?

8. On January 6, approximately how many individuals

a. attended President Trump’s speech at the Ellipse;

b. marched to the Capitol; and

c. breached the Capitol building?

9.  What was the cause of death of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick?

10. What Capitol property was damaged on January 6 and what is the cost estimate for repair or replacement?

I appreciate your attention and your ongoing work on this matter and I looking forward to continuing to assist the committees’ efforts.

Sincerely,

Ron Johnson

U.S. Senator

[1] Lauren Letherby and Anjali Singhvi, How Trump’s Calls to G.O.P. Lawmakers Fit in the Timeline of the Capitol Riot, NY Times, Feb. 13, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/15/us/trump-capitol-riot-timeline.html.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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