Diagram of US Capitol defenses on January 6, 2021
What follows is a working document compiled from well over a dozen sources. It was created for my own use and has evolved over time since the insurrection.
Although I have edited, condensed, and modified the text extensively; some portions remain intact verbatim from their original sources. I apologize for any stretches of fair use.
Due to multiple discrepancies in various timelines published publicly there are likely minor inaccuracies scattered throughout. To the best of my knowledge all times are EST.
This document is by no means “finished.” I will continue to add and edit information as it becomes available. Feel free to offer suggestions for additions and corrections in the comments.
Links to sources utilized can be found at the end/bottom of the document.
Uncommon abbreviations used:
USPP — United States Park Police
DCMPD/MPD — District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department
USCP/CPD — Capitol Police Department
DCNG — D.C. National Guard
NBC News
The committee found that 10 days before Jan. 6, the FBI created a unique tag within its Guardian threat tracking system to cover intelligence about possible threats to the Congressional electoral vote count that day. The code was “CERTUNREST.”
1/2/21
The White House and Mark Meadows made 18 calls to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger before finally getting him on the phone.
Trump demanded Raffensperger “find 11,780 votes,” exactly enough to tip the election in his favor.
Raffensperger declined.
1/3/21
The leaders of Trump’s Justice Department threatened to resign if the president replaced acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen, with Jeffrey Clark, to pursue the electoral challenge.
The U.S. Capitol Police issued a special event assessment, noting the Proud Boys and other groups planned to be in Washington on January 6th. They also indicated that “unlike previous post-election protests, the targets of the pro-Trump supporters are not necessarily the counter-protesters... but rather Congress itself is the target.”
Newsweek
The heads of a half-dozen elite government special operations teams met in Quantico, Virginia, to go over potential threats, contingencies, and plans for the upcoming Joint Session of Congress.
(snip)
The contingency units meeting on January 3 included the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, the FBI's national "Render Safe" team, an FBI SWAT team from the Baltimore Field Office, Special Response Teams from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service Special Operations Group.
1/4/21
Police agencies were alerted two days early that there might be trouble and were prepared to help.
The hotels “reported some problems with crowds and disorderly conduct the past few nights,” Fairfax County’s deputy county executive, Dave Rohrer said.
1/5/21
NBC News
One set of communications reviewed by the committee, but not recounted in the final report, showed that just after noon on Jan. 5, 2021, Valerie Hasberry, security chief for the architect of the Capitol, forwarded a Dataminr alert to the Capitol Police incident command.
It showed a tweet calling on thousands to “go to Washington Jan 6 and help storm the Capital,” adding “we will storm the government buildings, kill cops, kill security guards, kill federal employees and agents.”
“[M]y gut feel, my instinct is, again, based on everything you’re hearing, it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility that this was someone who actually planned on doing harm,” Hasberry told the committee.
The response came 58 minutes later, she told the committee: “There is no talk about any credible threats or storming the Capitol.”
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote to Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, and Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller:
As the law enforcement agency charged with protecting residents and visitors throughout the District of Columbia, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is prepared for this week’s First Amendment activities. MPD has coordinated with its federal partners, namely the US Park Police, US Capitol Police and the US Secret Service — all of whom regularly have uniformed personnel protecting federal assets in the District of Columbia. This week, MPD has additional logistical support of unarmed members of the DC National Guard, who will work under the direction of, and in coordination with, MPD.
255 D.C. National Guard members arrive in the city and begin to manage traffic control points alongside local law enforcement.
The FBI Field Office in Norfolk, Va., issued a warning that extremists were planning on traveling to D.C. and committing violence on Jan. 6. According to news reports and subsequent testimony, US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund was not made aware of this report.
7:39 pm
A dog walker unknowingly passes a suspected pipe bomber in a Capitol Hill neighborhood. Minutes later bombs are placed outside Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters. They won't be discovered until the following day.
Federal Protective Service officers noticed protesters trying to camp out on federal property and were “being vigilant for any suspicious activity,” according to an email from the agency. They were expecting large crowds, and by the next morning they were monitoring them closely.
1/6/21
1:00 am
Trump tweeted
“If Vice President @Mike_Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency . . . Mike can send it back!”
2:10 am
Georgia Senate runoff is called for Raphael Warnock (D)
4:13 am
Ali Alexander tweeted
“First official day of the rebellion.”
7:30 am
Mark Meadows texts Rep. Jim Jordan "I have pushed for this" in response to a text Jordan sent the night before, which advocated for Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election while presiding over Congress' certification of the Electoral College results. Meadows also told Jordan he's "not sure it is going to happen.”
7:40 am
A U.S. Park Police email warns of a "large crowd" that has broken through a barrier made of bicycle racks at the base of the Washington Monument, which was closed for security reasons.
8:17 am
Trump tweets:
"States want to correct their votes, which they now know were based on irregularities and fraud, plus corrupt process never received legislative approval. All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!”
8:27 am
As part of "escalated" planning, DCMPD officers are working or preparing for 12-hour shifts, according to Acting DCMPD Chief Robert Contee III. At the height of the violence later in the day, 850 D.C. officers — nearly one-fifth of the force — were at the U.S. Capitol.
8:30 am
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley review DoD’s plan to support law enforcement agencies and request an exercise regarding DoD contingency response options.
8:51 am
U.S. Secret Service sends an alert that there are over 10,000 people in line at the White House Ellipse, where President Trump was scheduled to speak at a rally at 11 a.m.
"Some members of the crowd are wearing ballistic helmets, body armor and carrying radio equipment and military grade backpacks," the alert said.
8:57 am
USPP Officers radio from the Washington Monument:
“Park Service has requested that the Flag Circle is closed, uh, we have about 300 people up here—they’re all refusing to leave. Do we have any react squads so we can have a small show of force, get this area closed?”
(and)
“You’re gonna have to come up to the Flag Circle because we’re telling thousands of people over here the exact [inaudible] in our hands giving them to read and they’re refusing to leave, so.”
9:00 am
”Save America March” begins at the Ellipse
Donald Trump unsuccessfully attempted to telephone Vice President Mike Pence.
9:01 am
USPP situation at Washington Monument escalates:
“I’ve got individuals breaking through the fence line,” an officer radioed.
Multiple Park Police response teams moved towards the monument to help. The situation quickly worsened as Park Police made an arrest.
“Units are backed into the monument, everyone’s breaking through the bike racks,” reported one officer.
“There’s a large crowd that’s following us. We’re going back into the monument with the individual that’s under arrest. They’re breaking through the bike racks,” said another.
The response came in the same minute: “Be advised, uh, superintendent’s been notified. Washington Monument’s gonna be closed down, we’re not going to be able to hold that base and that fence line with the numbers we have. Have the units up at the base advise it is, uh, closed.”
9:02 am
D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency staff position themselves in “mobile situational awareness teams” on the National Mall.
9:24 am
Trump talks on the phone with Jim Jordan for approximately 10 minutes, according to White House call logs that were obtained by the Washington Post.
9:45 am
USPP Officers at the Lincoln Memorial radio:
“We’ve got a large crowd here and we’re trying to push them out, they’ve got a giant banner flag thing going on here. There’s a lot of people who need some assistance.”
(snip)
“There’s uh, about five to eight hundred people here. Is the react coming or what?”
“Yeah, we’re sending a react team.”
“We have individuals with shields and gas masks at the statue.”
“Ok they’re at the Lincoln Statue with shields and masks?”
“10-4 and [inaudible] taking pictures right now with a flag that says ‘Fuck Antifa.’”
A protective service liaison to the Capitol Police wrote, “Good morning Sir, what I have is the Ellipse is permitted for 30k but they expecting for there to be much more. Freedom Plaza original permit was 5k and it was raised to 30k, the permit outside Sylven Theater is permitted for 15K.”
The agents were particularly interested in the right wing extremist group, Proud Boys. They noted how many were in Washington, that they were staying at a downtown hotel, and what they planned.
USPP officer reports presence a man with a pitchfork at the Washington Monument.
9:46 am
USPP Officers at the Lincoln Memorial were instructed to “monitor only.”
9:52 am
Trump talks to senior adviser Stephen Miller for 26 minutes, according to White House call logs.
Before 10:00 am
White House deputy chief of staff Tony Ornato informs Trump that authorities at the Ellipse, where Trump was going to hold a rally, encountered attendees with weapons, including pistols, rifles, bear spray and spears; according to Hutchinson's testimony.
10:00 am
Approximately 200 Proud Boys assemble at the Washington Monument.
Around 10:15 am
Hutchinson and Ornato inform Meadows about the armed members of the crowd forming at the Ellipse. Hutchinson told lawmakers that Meadows had little reaction when she told him about reports about weapons in the crowd.
10:19 am
Acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Michael Sherwin, sends arrest data from the previous night to acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue.
10:30 am
Proud Boy leaders Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl led Proud Boys on a march toward the Capitol.
10:41 am
D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services request a unit to help "navigate crowds" that are jamming downtown Washington, D.C.
10:43 am
Nordean told group of Proud Boys:
“We put our lives and our safety and everything on the line and these people put us in jail. Well, I'm tired of it. It's time to just say no. Back the yellow. Back the yellow, gentlemen.”
Joseph Biggs then took the megaphone and added:
“[A]fter what they did to our boy Enrique, we're gonna let D.C. fucking know we're goddamn here. We're gonna let the motherfucking world know that we fucking exist and we're not going any goddamn where. So let's fucking march through this fucking city that's our goddamn city and be loud and motherfucking proud boy proud. So let's go fucking kick some goddamn ass. Metaphorically speaking, but you know what I mean.”
10:47 am
Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani begins his speech at the Ellipse. Giuliani shares the podium with John Eastman.
10:50 am
Rudy Giuliani calls for “trial by combat” in speech at the Ellipse
10:58 am
A group of Proud Boys leaves the rally at the Ellipse and begins marching toward the Capitol
10:59 am
Police recover two firearms from an unattended vehicle north of the mall.
11:11 am
Police find a vehicle near L’Enfant Plaza with a rifle and scope visible.
11:08 am
Trump entered the Oval Office. By that time, about 400 pro-Trump demonstrators had already massed at the Capitol.
11:20 am
Trump placed a call to Vice President Mike Pence. Trump wanted Pence to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, and he was very unhappy the vice president wouldn’t do it.
Vice President Pence’s National Security Advisor, General Keith Kellogg, Jr, was present and described President Trump as berating the Vice President for “not [being] tough enough to make the call” to delay or reject electoral votes.
11:21 am
Via megaphone, Nordean told his troops and nearby protesters at the Peace Circle:
“We represent the spirit of 1776. If you haven't noticed, real men are here. We know what the oath is. Support, support and defend the constitution of the United States against foreign enemies and domestic. Let us remind those who have forgotten what that means.”
11:30 am
Vice President Elect Kamala Harris arrives at DNC headquarters in close proximity to an as yet undiscovered pipe bomb.
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller participates in a table-top exercise regarding DoD contingency response options.
11:31 am
Nordean via megaphone:
“You took our boy in and you let the stabber go. You guys gotta prove your shit to us now. We'll do your goddamn job for you. How about you start going after these terrorists so we don't have to do this. ... We don’t owe you anything. Your job is to protect and serve the people, not property or bureaucrats.”
11:35 am
DCMPD responds to reports of a man with a rifle at 15th Street and Constitution Ave.
11:38 am
Trump left the White House to address the rally at The Ellipse.
11:47 am
Recorded conversation of Proud Boys while marching:
Voice: Let's take the fucking Capitol!
Another Voice: Let's not fucking yell that, alright?
Nordean: It was Milkshake, man. Ya know. Idiot.
Another voice: Don't yell it; do it.
11:48 am
USPP Officers radios that:
“MPD has eyes on one in a tree, confirmed armed.”
The individual was arrested shortly thereafter.
Before 11:57 am
Trump tells his staff to "take the f***ing mags away," referring to the metal detectors at the security line for his Ellipse rally, because the rally goers were "not here to hurt me," according to Hutchinson's testimony. Trump wanted to increase the size of the crowd, Hutchinson said.
“They’re not here to hurt me,” Trump told his staff, Hutchinson recalled. “Let them in. Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol after the rally’s over. .... Take the effing mags away. Then they can march to the Capitol.”
11:57 am
Trump begins his speech at the Ellipse, where he repeats many of his election lies and publicly pressures Pence to go along with Eastman's legally dubious scheme.
12:00 pm
In a briefing at noon a Federal Protective Service email said about 300 Proud Boys were at the U.S. Capitol.
“No incidents at this time,” the email said. But then it warned, “The Proud Boys are threatening to shut down the water system in the downtown area, which includes government facilities.”
The email noted there was a man in a tree with what appeared to be a rifle near the Ellipse, and about 25,000 people were around the White House, including some who were hiding bags in bushes outside the building.
“Together we stand!” the officer signed off.
12:05 pm
Paul Gosar tweeted:
“Biden should concede. I want his concession on my desk tomorrow morning. Don’t make me come over there.”
12:14 pm
Vice President Pence’s counsel Greg Jacob wrote in an email to John Eastman:
“I have run down every legal trail placed before me to its conclusion, and I respectfully conclude that as a legal framework, it is a results-oriented position that you would never support if attempted by the opposition, and essentially entirely made up... And thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege."
12:17 pm
Trump exhorted the rally crowd to...
“fight like hell or you won’t have a country anymore,”
12:20 pm
A Federal Protective Service officer writes in an email, "POTUS is encouraging the protesters to march to capitol grounds and continue protesting there.”
12:28 pm
“Protesters moving towards the capitol down Pennsylvania, Constitution and Madison in numbers estimated 10-15,000”
12:29 pm
CPD officer reports hearing a Taser fired near the Senate.
12:30 pm
Crowds begin to gather at the Capitol.
12:33 pm
USPP report detaining a person with a rifle on 17th Street near the WWII Memorial.
12:45 pm
"What looked like a wall of people suddenly arrived about a block west of the Capitol."
12:49 pm
Capitol Police respond to a report of a possible explosive device at RNC headquarters, which is later identified as a pipe bomb.
A police sweep identifies a vehicle which held one handgun, an M4 Carbine assault rifle with loaded magazine, and components for 11 Molotov cocktails with homemade napalm.
12:53 pm
Ryan Samsel briefly spoke with Joseph Biggs…
Rioters overwhelm police along the outer perimeter west of the Capitol building, pushing aside temporary fencing. Some protesters immediately follow, while others, at least initially, remain behind and admonish the others: "Don't do it. You're breaking the law."
12:55 pm
CPD sends all available units to the front of the Capitol. Officers inside are instructed to secure doors.
12:57 pm
A message read, “Large group just breached the USCP barricade on the West Front,” referring to the Capitol Police barriers on west side of the Capitol Building.
12:58 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund asks House Sergeant at Arms Paul D. Irving and Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael C. Stenger to declare an emergency and call for deployment of the National Guard.
Irving and Stenger state that they will forward the request up their chains of command. Soon afterwards, aides to Congressional leaders arrive in Stenger's office and are outraged to learn that he has not yet called for any reinforcement.
1:00 pm
US Capitol Police Chief Sund calls D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Contee, who deploys 100 officers to the Capitol complex.
A Capitol Police inspector orders lockdown of the Capitol building.
Lawmakers and the VP begin to gather in the Senate chamber
1:02 pm
Pence releases letter stating that the Constitution prevents him from unilaterally interfering with the Electoral Vote Count.
1:03 pm
Vice President Pence gavels in the U.S. Senate.
At the White House Ellipse, Trump's "stop the steal" speech has seven minutes remaining. In the speech, he tells supporters, "I hope Mike is going to do the right thing. I hope so. I hope so. Because if Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election."
"All Vice President Pence has to do is send it back to the states to recertify, and we become president, and you are the happiest people," Trump told the crowd.
1:05 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund repeats his request to declare an emergency and call for deployment of the National Guard.
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller receives OSINT reports of demonstrators moving towards the U.S. Capitol.
Vice President Pence’s counsel Greg Jacob wrote in an email to Dr. John Eastman
“The advice provided has, whether intended or not, functioned as a serpent in the ear of the President of the United States, the most powerful office in the entire world. And here we are.”
(snip)
“Respectfully, it was gravely, gravely irresponsible for you to entice the President with an academic theory that had no legal viability, and that you well know we would lose before any judge who heard and decided the case. And if the courts declined to hear it, I suppose it could only be decided in the streets. The knowing amplification of that theory through numerous surrogates, whipping large numbers of people into a frenzy over something with no chance of ever attaining legal force through actual process of law, has led us to where we are.”
1:07 pm
Pipe bomb discovered at DNC headquarters while Vice President Elect Kamala Harris was on the premises.
ATF sent a team of experts to deal with the explosive devices in coordination with the Capitol Police and MPD.
1:09 pm
Sund notifies the two Sergeants at Arms that he “urgently needed support and asked them to declare a State of Emergency and authorize the National Guard.” Sund testified that Irving tells him he needs to “run it up the chain of command.” When Sund checks back in, Irving tells him he “was waiting to hear back from congressional leadership, but expected authorization at any moment.”
Note: Irving disputes the timeline saying Sund’s request came at 1:28 or 2:00 p.m.; acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman’s subsequent testimony supports Sund’s account and is based on phone records obtained by Capitol Police.
1:10 pm
MPD Officers begin to arrive at the Capitol.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy calls Hutchinson and angrily tells her not to let Trump go to the Capitol.
1:12 pm
Paul Gosar and Ted Cruz object to certifying Arizona’s electoral votes. The joint session separates into House and Senate chambers to debate the objection.
1:14 pm
Vice President-elect Harris is evacuated by the Secret Service from DNC Headquarters.
1:15 pm
Trump concludes his speech: “We fight. We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country any more. My fellow Americans, for our movement, for our children, and for our beloved country. So we’re going to, we’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. And we’re going to the Capitol.”
President Trump ends his speech by encouraging the crowd to march to the Capitol: "We’re going to try and give them [Republicans] the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country."
1:16 pm
According to law enforcement radio traffic obtained by the New York Times, police officers are already reporting multiple injuries and calling for backup.
1:19 pm
Trump arrives back at the White House. During the short drive back from the Ellipse, Trump becomes irate and demands to be driven to the Capitol. Members of his security team refuse to take him there according to Hutchinson who testified that she was told about the exchange by Ornato and another member of Trump's security detail.
1:21 pm
Trump met with his valet at the White House according to White House logs.
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund begged for help from the National Guard as the crowd started to swell around the west side of the building and became increasingly violent.
1:23 pm
Rioters attempt to breach the police line formed by barricades of bicycle racks. As a police lieutenant sprays the crowd with a chemical substance, rioter Julian Elie Khater raises his arm above the mob and sprays a chemical substance toward USCP officer Brian Sicknick.
TV networks were broadcasting live as the mob broke through metal police barricades and advanced toward the doors of the building where lawmakers were gathered to certify the presidential election results.
1:26 pm
The U.S. Capitol Police order evacuation of at least two buildings in the Capitol complex, including the Cannon House Office Building and the Madison Building of the Library of Congress.
1:27 pm
Several police officers were reported injured.
1:28 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund repeats his request to declare an emergency and call for deployment of the National Guard.
1:30 pm
Capitol Police are overwhelmed and forced to retreat up the steps of the Capitol.
Large numbers of Trump supporters continue to march from the Ellipse 1.5 miles down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell takes the floor and addresses the Senate. "Voters, the courts and the states have all spoken — they've all spoken. If we overrule them, it would damage our republic forever."
1:34 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund repeats his request to declare an emergency and call for deployment of the National Guard.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requests via phone that Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy provide additional forces.
1:35 pm
Mitch McConnell warns that refusing to certify the results of the presidential election under false pretenses would push American democracy into a "death spiral"
1:39 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund again repeats his request to declare an emergency and call for deployment of the National Guard.
1:40 pm
Protesters move up the left side of the Capitol’s west front stairs, others begin climbing the scaffolding.
1:45 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund again repeats his request to declare an emergency and call for deployment of the National Guard.
1:49 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund requests immediate assistance from DCNG. Commander Major General Walker loads guardsmen onto buses in anticipation of receiving permission from the Secretary of the Army to deploy.
Rioters breach the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol.
1:50 pm
D.C. Metropolitan Police on-scene incident commander Robert Glover declares a riot.
1:51 pm
Alex Jones speaks from a bullhorn to the crowd on west side exhorting them to remain peaceful and to "not fight the police." He directs them to "the other [East] side" where he claims they have a permit and a stage.
Radio talk show host and former FEMA director Michael D. Brown tweeted:
“I would be cautious before jumping to conclusion that it is Trump supporters breaching security on Capitol Hill. It is more likely IMHO that Antifa or BLM or other insurgents could be doing it disguised as Trump supporters. Come on, man, have you never heard of psyops?”
1:51 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund activates the Capitol Police’s mutual aid agreement with National Capital Region law enforcement entities.
1:58 pm
Capitol Police Chief Sund receives the first reports that rioters had reached the Capitol's doors and windows and were trying to break in.
Along the east side of the Capitol, a much smaller police presence retreats from a mob, removing a barrier along the northeast corner of the building. At 2:00 p.m. the mob removes the last barrier protecting the east side of the Capitol.
2:00 pm
Yogananda Pittman, the Capitol Police’s assistant chief for protective and intelligence operations, orders a lockdown of the Capitol building. U.S. Capitol is locked down.
2:02 pm
White House Counsel Cipollone tells White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about the violence unfolding at the Capitol, that Trump needs to take action to stop the riot, and that "something needs to be done or people are going to die." Meadows immediately went to relay that message to President Trump.
2:05 pm
Kevin Greeson is declared dead after suffering a heart attack outdoors on Capitol grounds.
2:06 pm
Rioters continue to push toward the building, reaching the Rotunda steps.
2:08 pm
Rioters reach the House Plaza.
2:10 pm
According to the AP, Sund calls Walker again and asks for at least 200 guard members “and to send more if they are available.”
House Sergeant at Arms Irving calls Chief Sund with formal approval to request assistance from the National Guard.
Rioters breach the final barricade on the West Front and northwest side of the Capitol, and quickly approach an entrance near the Senate chamber.
2:11 pm
Dominic Pezzola breaks a window on the northwest side of the Capitol with a plastic shield.
Rioters smashed through first-floor windows on the Capitol's south front, making a hole big enough to climb through.
A member of the U.S. Marine Reserve who wore a U.S. flag hood as he allegedly clambered through the window is later arrested by the FBI.
2:12 pm
Sen. Mitt Romney encounters Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman running down a second-floor hallway outside the Senate chamber. Goodman tells him that rioters are near and he is safer inside. Romney returns to the Senate floor.
An insurrectionist who entered the Capitol through a broken window opened doors for others.
2:13 pm
Vice President Pence is removed from the Senate chamber to a nearby office. The Senate is gavelled into recess. The Senate abruptly adjourns, amid debate over a GOP objection to Biden's electoral votes from Arizona.
2:14 pm
A message screamed “CAPITOL HAS BEEN BREACHED. PROTESTERS ARE NOW INSIDE THE CAPITOL.”
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, confronted by a mob, redirects rioters away from the Senate chamber.
As Representative Gosar speaks to the House against certifying Arizona's electoral votes, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is removed from the chamber by her protective detail.
Jacob Chansley the "QAnon Shaman," walked into the Capitol through a broken door.
A handwritten National Guard timeline says, “CG told to stand by” by the secretary of the Army.
2:15 pm
Congressional leaders were evacuated.
Cipollone again tells Meadows that Trump should intervene. Meadows responds by saying Trump "doesn't want to do anything" about the riot and that Trump agrees with the rioters who were calling for Pence to be hanged.
2:16 pm
It is reported the House and Senate chambers were being locked down.
2:20 pm
The House is gavelled into recess and starts to evacuate.
2:22 pm
Army Secretary McCarthy has a phone call with Mayor Bowser, D.C. Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio, Director of the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Christopher Rodriguez, and DCMPD leadership in which additional DCNG support is requested.
D.C.'s homeland security director Chris Rodriquez coordinates a conference call with Mayor Bowser, the chiefs of the Capitol Police (Sund) and Metropolitan Police (Contee), and DCNG Maj. Gen. Walker. As the DCNG does not report to a governor, but to the President, Maj. Gen. Walker patched in the Office of the Secretary of the Army, noting that he would need Pentagon authorization to deploy. Lt. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, director of the Army Staff, noted that the Pentagon needed Capitol Police authorization to step onto Capitol grounds. Sund began describing the breach by rioters but the call became unintelligible as multiple people began asking questions at the same time. Metro Police Chief Robert Contee asked for clarification from Capitol Police Chief Sund: "Steve, are you requesting National Guard assistance at the Capitol?" to which Chief Sund replied, "I am making urgent, urgent, immediate request for National Guard assistance." According to Sund, Lt. Gen. Piatt said, "I don't like the visual of the National Guard standing a police line with the Capitol in the background", and that he prefer that the Guard relieve police posts around D.C. to allow police to deploy to the Capitol. Sund pleaded with Lt. Gen. Piatt to send the Guard, but Lt. Gen. Piatt said only Army Secretary McCarthy had the authority to approve such a request and he could not recommend that Secretary McCarthy approve the request for assistance directly to the Capitol. The D.C. officials were subsequently described as "flabbergasted" at this message. McCarthy would later state that he was not in this conference call because he was already entering a meeting with senior Department leadership.[97] Piatt contests this description of the call, denying that he talked about visuals and stating that he stayed on the conference call while senior Defense Department officials were meeting.[118] The Army falsely denied for two weeks that Lt. Gen. Charles A. Flynn - the Army deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and training - was in this call.
2:24 pm
MPD civil disturbance units are deployed to the Capitol.
Trump tweeted:
“Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!”
2:25 pm
Army Secretary McCarthy ordered staff to prepare movement of the emergency reaction force, which could be ready in 20 minutes, to the Capitol.
John Eastman wrote in an email to Vice President Pence’s counsel Greg Jacob
“The ‘siege’ is because YOU and your boss did not do what was necessary to allow this to be aired in a public way so the American people can see for themselves what happened.”
Rioters in the building open the east-side doors of the Capitol Rotunda, letting in more people. At the same time, one floor below, rioters push through police and enter the building. House members are told to be prepared to use gas masks.
2:26 pm
Security video shows Secret Service moving the Vice President and his family to a new secure location.
Public Safety Secretary of Virginia, Brian Moran, dispatches the Virginia State Police to the Capitol as permitted by mutual aid agreement with D.C.
Trump calls Senator Mike Lee (R–UT), having mis-dialed Senator Tommy Tuberville (R–AL). Lee passes his phone to Tuberville, who informs Trump that Pence had just been evacuated from the Senate chamber. “I said ‘Mr President, they've taken the Vice President out. They want me to get off the phone, I gotta go’.”
2:27 pm
Vice President Mike Pence argues with his security detail about leaving the Capitol.
2:28 pm
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund reiterates his request for National Guard support to help shore up the perimeter of the Capitol.
The Washington Times publishes false story claiming facial recognition company XRVision identified antifa members among the crowd at the Capitol.
The police line that was holding back the rioters is overtaken and the crowd takes over the lower terrace of the U.S. Capitol Building. Amidst brutal attacks, Metropolitan Police are ordered to pull back up to the upper deck. A call goes out for emergency assistance, meaning all units should respond.
Marjorie Taylor Greene tells Meadows via text that he should "tell the President to calm people."
2:30 pm
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, and Army Secretary McCarthy meet to discuss Capitol Police and D.C. government requests
2:31 pm
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issues a citywide curfew for all D.C. residents starting at 6 p.m.
D.C. officials ask the Pentagon for immediate assistance. Defense Department officials later said they did not like "the optics of the National Guard standing a line at the Capitol."
2:32 pm
Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who promoted many of Trump's election lies, texts Meadows that "the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home."
2:35 pm
Oath Keepers stack formation pushes through the crowd.
Trump's former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney texts Meadows saying that Trump "needs to stop this, now," and offers to help.
2:37 pm
Gen. Charles Flynn and Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt advise DCNG to “take over other points” to help relieve law enforcement officers to go to the Capitol.
2:38 pm
Trump tweets:
"Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!"
Proud Boy Enrique Tarrio posted to social media “Don’t fucking leave,” and celebrated the success of the conspiracy in an encrypted chat for a small group of Proud Boys leadership, stating “Make no mistake…” and then “We did this…”
2:39 pm
Former Olympic swimmer Klete Keller enters the Capitol.
2:40 pm
Oath Keepers "forcibly entered the Capitol through the Rotunda door," pelting objects at the police officers who were standing guard and spraying them with chemicals.
2:41 pm
Gen. Charles Flynn advises DCNG to stand by.
2:42 pm
Rioters break windows from the doors in Lower West Terrace, beginning an over two-hour fight against police that the Justice Department would later call "one of the most violent confrontations" of January 6.
2:43 pm
Rioters break the glass of a door to the House Speaker's Lobby. Zach Alam was seen in a video using a helmet to break through glass in the doorway to the Speaker's Lobby — the same doorway where Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot by police.
2:44 pm
As U.S. Capitol Police were removing lawmakers from the House Chamber, Ashli Babbitt attempted to climb through a smashed window in the door to the House Speaker Lobby. A Capitol Police officer shot her from inside the chamber. Babbitt died from the wound.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a Georgia Republican who supported nullifying Biden's victory in his state, texts Meadows that "It's really bad up here on the hill."
2:45 pm
Pro-Trump rioters invade the Senate floor and break into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office.
Message sent “Shots fired 2nd floor house side inside the capitol”
2:49 pm
After discussion with his chief of staff, Clark Mercer, the Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, activates all available assets of the State of Virginia including the Virginia National Guard to aid the US capitol. Authorization from DoD required for legal deployment of Virginia National Guard in D.C. was not granted.
2:52 pm
FBI SWAT teams arrive at the Capitol.
2:53 pm
Donald Trump Jr. texts Meadows, "He's got to condem this shit. Asap. The captiol police tweet is not enough." Meadows replies, "I am pushing it hard. I agree."
2:58 pm
U.S. Capitol Police are extracting and securing congressional staff, some of whom are hiding beneath tables in their offices, and some of whom have barricaded doors amid the horror.
One D.C. area Democratic staffer was in the health clinic to get her COVID vaccine.
Before 3:00 pm
Trump speaks on the phone with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who pleads with Trump to call off the mob, but Trump takes the side of the rioters, telling McCarthy; “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.”
3:00 pm
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller determines all available forces of the D.C. National Guard are required to reinforce MPD and U.S. Capitol Police positions to support efforts to reestablish security of the Capitol complex
Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy directs the D.C. National Guard to prepare available Guard members to move from the armory to the Capitol complex, while seeking formal approval from Miller for deployment. The D.C. Guard prepares to move 150 personnel to support the U.S. Capitol Police, pending Miller’s approval.
Walker directs the quick reaction force that was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base to leave the base and get to the armory as fast as possible. “I had a police escort bring them to the armory. They returned to the armory in about 20 minutes. So we had them sitting there waiting.”
Approximately 45 minutes after entering the Capitol, QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley reached the Senate floor and clambered onto the Senate dais.
"Chansley proceeded to take pictures of himself on the dais and refused to vacate the seat when asked to do so by law enforcement. Instead, he stated that 'Mike Pence is a f----ing traitor' and wrote a note on available paper on the dais, stating 'It's Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming!'" prosecutors stated.
White House aides draft a statement for Trump to release, which would've condemned the violence and the "illegal" actions of the rioters, according to Hutchinson's testimony. The statement was never released.
3:04 pm
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, with advice from Milley, Ney, the chief of the National Guard Bureau (Gen. Daniel Hokanson), Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville, provide verbal approval of the full activation of the D.C. National Guard (1,100 total) in support of the Metropolitan Police Department. Immediately upon Miller’s approval, McCarthy directs the D.C. National Guard to initiate movement and full mobilization.
In response, the Guard redeployed all soldiers from positions at Metro stations and all available non-support and non-C2 personnel to support the police. The D.C. Guard begins full mobilization.
3:05 pm
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy started a phone-in interview on live TV with WUSA. McCarthy said he had called the president to urge him to "calm people down" and in reply the president had sent out a tweet
3:09 pm
Jacob Chansley "QAnon Shaman” removed from Senate chamber.
Former Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus texts Meadows, "TELL THEM TO GO HOME !!!"
3:10 pm
Fairfax County’s deputy county executive, Dave Rohrer, emailed more than 25 county officials: “Subject: Awareness - Police Mutual Aid Request U.S. Capitol Police.”
“It is obvious to me based on my experience and knowledge that an emergency exists,” said Rohrer. He said he had authorized the Fairfax County Police Department to send Civil Disturbance Unit officers and commanders “to assist gaining control for safety reasons.”
He added that they were monitoring the deployment closely.[...]
Rohrer said he reminded commanders on the scene “that they are to cease operations if at any point they determine they are being used in an inappropriate, unethical, illegal manner, or are not under a competent authority... Maintaining life safety, regaining and establishing a safe perimeter, etc., should be the initial focus.”
3:13 pm
Trump's former Health Secretary Tom Price texts Meadows saying, "POTUS should go on air and defuse this."
Trump tweeted:
“I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”
At some point, he sequestered himself in the dining room off the Oval Office to watch the violence play out on TV, rewinding and re-watching some parts, according to former aides.
3:15 pm
House Speaker Pelosi calls the Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam and confirms that all assets of the State of Virginia including the National Guard are being sent to aid the U.S. Capitol.
Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter and senior adviser, calls the rioters "patriots" in a tweet, and tells them that "the violence must stop," but does not say that they should leave the Capitol.
3:19 pm
Army Secretary McCarthy has a phone call with Senator Schumer and House Speaker Pelosi about Mayor Bowser's request. McCarthy explains that a full DCNG mobilization has been approved.
3:22 pm
Fairfax County’s deputy county executive, Dave Rohrer suspended any fire, rescue or emergency service transportation to hospitals in the District of Columbia and “upgrading response and command structure.”
3:26 pm
Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy has a phone call with Mayor Bowser and Metro Police Chief Contee conveying that their request was not denied and that Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller has approved full activation of the DCNG.
3:31 pm
Fox News host Sean Hannity texts Meadows, "Can he make a statement. I saw the tweet. Ask people to peacefully leave the capital." Meadows replies, "on it."
3:32 pm
According to Secretary of Defense timeline, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam orders mobilization of the Virginia National Guard in anticipation of a request for support
Note inconsistency with statements of Virginia Governor. Statements of Virginia Governor indicate: 1) he authorized all forces under his command to help capitol before DoD, and 2) DoD only followed after dissemination of his mobilization
3:36 pm
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted
“At President @realDonaldTrump’s direction, the National Guard is on the way along with other federal protective services. We reiterate President Trump’s call against violence and to remain peaceful.”
3:37 pm
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan orders mobilization of the Maryland National Guard in anticipation of a request for support.
The Pentagon sends its own security forces to guard the homes of defense leaders.
3:38 pm
D.C. Council tweets out a statement about the Defense Department “denying” Mayor Bowser’s request to “expand the responsibilities of the D.C. National Guard so that they would be authorized to protect and restore order at the Capitol.”
3:39 pm
Arlington County, Virginia acting police chief Andy Penn informs county officials that Arlington officers are responding to the attack and have been absorbed into the Capitol Police response.
Chuck Schumer implores Pentagon officials, “Tell POTUS to tweet everyone should leave.” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, wondered about calling up active duty military.
3:45 pm
Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger tells Sund that he will ask Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to call Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy to help get the National Guard authorized more quickly.
3:46 pm
Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has a phone call with the Adjutant General (TAG) of Virginia, Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, to discuss support in Washington D.C. Williams said the governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, had ordered mobilization of forces at 3:32.
3:48 pm
Army Secretary McCarthy leaves the Pentagon for DCMPD Headquarters in the Henry Daly Building.
3:49 pm
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer issue a joint statement calling on Trump to demand that protesters leave the Capitol and its grounds immediately.
3:55 pm
Hokanson speaks by phone with Maryland’s TAG, Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, to discuss support in Washington D.C. Gowen said Maryland’s governor, Larry Hogan, ordered the mobilization of the rapid response force.
4:00 pm
Rioters clash with police while trying to push through a doorway at the north entrance to the Capitol.
4:05 pm
Biden delivers a televised address, saying the Capitol attack "borders on sedition," and calling on Trump to tell his supporters to put "an end to this siege."
“I call on President Trump to go on national television now, to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege. This is not a protest, it is an insurrection”
Trump Jr. texts Meadows, "We need an oval address. He has to lead now. It's gone too far and gotten out of hand." A few minutes later, Trump Jr. sends another message saying, "Now Biden beating us to the punch."
4:08 pm
From a secure location, Vice President Pence phoned Christopher Miller, the acting defense secretary, to confirm the Capitol was not secure and ask military leaders for a deadline for securing the building while demanding that the Capitol be cleared.
Trump went out to the Rose Garden to tape a public address after frantic urging.
4:10 pm
Army Secretary McCarthy arrives at DCMPD Headquarters.
4:17 pm
Trump uploads a video to his Twitter denouncing the riots, but maintaining the false claims that the election was stolen. This was one of three takes, with the "most palatable option" chosen by White House aides for distribution. In the video he says:
"I know your pain, I know you're hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don't want anybody hurt. It's a very tough period of time. There's never been a time like this where such a thing happened where they could take it away from all of us — from me, from you, from our country. This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel, but go home, and go home in peace.”
4:18 pm
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, Gen. Milley, Army Secretary McCarthy, and Gen. Hokanson discuss availability of National Guard forces located outside of the immediate D.C. Metro area. Secretary Miller verbally authorizes mustering and deployment of out-of-State National Guard forces to D.C.
Jon Ossoff (D) defeats David Perdue (R) in the Georgia Senate runoff, giving Democrats control of Senate.
Maryland and Virginia send National Guard and state troopers to Washington.
4:26 pm
Rioter Rosanne Boyland collapses and is taken to the hospital where she is later pronounced dead of an amphetamine overdose.
4:27 pm
Rioters attack police guarding the Capitol’s West Terrace Tunnel.
4:30 pm
MPD Officer Daniel Hodges is crushed in a doorway and struck by rioters during West Terrace Tunnel battle.
4:32 pm
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller approves an operational plan to deploy the National Guard to the Capitol.
4:40 pm
Army Secretary McCarthy has a phone call with Maryland Governor Hogan in which the Governor agrees to send Maryland NG forces to D.C., expected the next day.
Schumer and Pelosi are on the phone again with Milley and Pentagon leadership, asking that they secure the perimeter of the Capitol. This call was not included in the public DoD timeline, but, according to the AP, part of an internal DoD timeline. That internal document notes the call lasted 30 minutes and congressional leadership on the call “accuses the National Security apparatus of knowing that protestors planned to conduct an assault on the Capitol.”
4:48 pm
Insurrectionists who were pushed out of the Capitol attack media outside of the Senate destroying gear left by fleeing journalists.
5:02 pm
Departure of 154 D.C. Guard members from the D.C. Armory in support of the U.S. Capitol Police.
5:08 pm
Army senior leaders finally relay Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller’s approval to Walker, which, according to Walker’s written testimony, is 3 hours and 19 minutes after he first shares Sund’s frantic request for backup with the Army. He said Miller’s approval was given to him during a video conference with Army leadership.
There is no explanation of the 36-minute gap between the time Miller conveyed his authorization of approval to the Army and the Army’s leadership informing Walker of the approval. In a Senate hearing, Salesses acknowledges the failure in his exchange with Senator Blunt.
5:20 pm
The first contingent of 155 Guard members, dressed in riot gear, began arriving at the Capitol.
5:36 pm
Sund briefs Pence on the current security posture. Pence initiates a call with Pelosi and Sund advises both of them that the Chambers could be safely re-occupied by 7:30 p.m.
5:40 pm
154 DCNG soldiers arrive at the Capitol Complex, swear in with the Capitol Police, and begin support operations.
The interior of the Capitol is cleared of rioters.
Leaders of Congress state that they will continue tallying electoral votes
5:45 pm
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller signs formal authorization for out-of-State National Guard to muster and deploy in support of U.S. Capitol Police.
Police announce that Ashli Babbitt, the woman shot inside the Capitol, has died.
6:00 pm
D.C. curfew takes effect.
6:01 pm
Trump tweeted:
"Go home with love & in peace…. These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long,” he wrote. “Remember this day forever!”
6:09 pm
Rioter Rosanne Boyland is pronounced dead at a local hospital from an amphetamine overdose after collapsing near a tunnel entrance on the west side of the Capitol.
John Eastman “remain[ed] of the view” that “adjourn[ing] to allow the state legislatures to continue their work” was the “most prudent course.”
6:14 pm
U.S. Capitol Police, D.C. Metropolitan Police, and DCNG successfully establish a perimeter on the west side of the U.S. Capitol.
6:27 pm
Trump went back to the residence, and started calling his lawyers.
6:30 pm
Chief Sund briefs Pence, Pelosi, Schumer and other members of congressional leadership on the security situation, advising that both chambers could reopen by 7:30 p.m
7:00 pm
Facebook removes Trump’s posts: “We removed from Facebook and Instagram the recent video of President Trump speaking about the protests and his subsequent post about the election results. We made the decision that on balance these posts contribute to, rather than diminish, the risk of ongoing violence.”
7:02 pm
Twitter removes Trump’s tweets and shuts down his account for 12 hours for “repeated and severe violations of [its] Civic Integrity policy.”
7:36 pm
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller provides verbal approval to lease fences in support of the U.S. Capitol Police for security of the Capitol building.
7:54 pm
The RNC condemns Capitol violence as an “attack on our country.”
8:00 pm
U.S. Capitol Police declare the Capitol building to be secure.
8:06 pm
Pence reopens the Senate, saying, “Let’s get back to work.” Congress resumed counting electoral votes.
Pence returns to the dais, saying, "To those who wreaked havoc in our capitol today, you did not win." Sen. Mitch McConnell, the chamber's top Republican, calls the events of the day a "failed insurrection."
8:31 pm
A Federal Protective Service memo alerted “there is a report of an armed militia group headed to dc from west Virginia. Query ongoing.”
8:36 pm
Facebook blocks Trump’s page for 24 hours because of policy violations, preventing any posts for that duration.
8:39 pm
Trump speaks on the phone with Giuliani for nine minutes, according to White House call logs.
9:00 pm
Pelosi brings the House back into session and vows that “justice will be done.”
10:15 pm
The Senate votes 93–6 against the objection raised against the counting of Arizona's electoral votes.
10:19 pm
Trump speaks with former White House strategist Steve Bannon for seven minutes, according to White House call logs.
11:08 pm
Trump talks to Hannity for eight minutes, according to White House call logs.
11:30 pm
The House votes 303–121 to reject the Republican objection to the counting of Arizona's electoral votes
11:44 pm
John Eastman sent one final email to persuade Vice President Pence’s counsel Greg Jacob to change his mind:
“I implore you to consider one more relatively minor violation [of the Electoral Count Act] and adjourn for 10 days to allow the legislatures to finish their investigations, as well as to allow a full forensic audit of the massive amount of illegal activity that has occurred here.”
Before 12:00 am
Fairfax County’s deputy county executive, Dave Rohrer emailed... Although the Capitol was quiet,
“Intel will be monitored throughout the night and, unfortunately, PD and US Capitol Police are investigating several threats targeting residences of Capitol VIPs or family members received late tonight.”
1/7/21
12:15 am
Republican Representative Scott Perry and Senator Josh Hawley object to the counting of Pennsylvania's electoral votes, triggering debate in both chambers.
12:55 am
The Senate rejects, 92–7, the objection raised against the counting of Pennsylvania's electoral votes.
2:20 am
A small number of representatives nearly have a physical confrontation in the House chamber. After Representative Conor Lamb said the attack on the Capitol by the angry pro-Trump mob earlier in the day was "inspired by lies, the same lies you are hearing in this room tonight," Representative Morgan Griffith objected to Lamb's remarks; the objection was rejected by Speaker Pelosi.
Several minutes later, members of both parties have a heated verbal discussion in the middle aisle in close proximity, breaking up when Pelosi called for order.
3:10 am
The House rejects, 282–138, the objection against the counting of Pennsylvania's electoral votes.
3:24 am
Congress completes the counting of the electoral votes, with Biden winning, 306–232; Vice President Pence affirms the election result, formally declaring Biden the winner
3:42 am
After both the House and Senate reject challenges to Biden's wins in Arizona and Pennsylvania, Pence officially affirms the election results, declaring Biden the president-elect.
Congress certified President Elect Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election.
2:30 pm
During a televised press conference Nancy Pelosi asks for the resignation of the US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, adding "I think Mr. Sund … He hasn’t even called us since this happened". Sund submits letter of resignation that afternoon with a departure date of January 16. Both Sergeant at Arms are forced to resign as well.
By Jan. 7, Fairfax County Police Department Major Shawn Bennett was bristling at former Capitol Police Chief Terry Gainer’s critique of the police response.
“Gainer throws a lot of shame but he doesn’t offer any answers to what ‘specifically’ he would have done differently to keep the initial group from breaking down the barriers,” emailed Bennett.
Also on Jan. 7, Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill was thanking his staff.
“Our Police Department’s Civil Disturbance Unit answered the call yesterday, and as much as I hated to activate you, it was an activation to preserve our republic,” he wrote. “I am hopeful we will never again see what we witnessed yesterday, but I am most hopeful that yesterday’s events will galvanize our county and our nation as we do our best to vaccinate, maintain calm and create a sense of unity.”
9:30 pm
Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick dies after suffering two strokes.
1/8/21
10:00 am
Chief Sund is notified by the new acting Senate Sergeant at Arms that his departure is to be effective January 8 not January 16 as previously agreed upon. Yogananda Pittman is sworn in as acting Chief of the US Capitol Police that afternoon.
10:44 am
Trump tweeted:
“To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.”
6:20 pm
Twitter suspended Trump’s account.
Sources
Just Security
Associated Press
Associated Press
The Washington Post
CBS News
Lawfare Blog
The Washington Post
Wikipedia
National Security Archive
BBC
Dana Decker
CNN
Associated Press
Just Security
Capitol Insurrection Tweets
Lawfare Blog
American Oversight
Jefferson Public Radio
