Internal report cites failures in Capitol Police preparation

Inspector general finds widespread deficiencies.

A blistering internal report by the U.S. Capitol Police describes a multitude of missteps that left the force unprepared for the Jan. 6 siege — riot shields that shattered upon impact, expired weapons that couldn’t be used, inadequate training and an intelligence division that had few set standards.

The watchdog report, released internally last month and obtained by The Associated Press before a congressional hearing today, adds to what is already known about broader security and intelligence failures that Congress has been investigating since hundreds of then-president Donald Trump’s supporters laid siege to the Capitol.

In an extensive timeline of that day, the report describes the movements of the Capitol Police as officers scrambled to evacuate lawmakers and it details previously unknown conversations between officials as they disagreed on whether National Guard forces were necessary to back up the understaffed force.

Inspector General Michael A. Bolton found that the department’s deficiencies were — and remain — widespread. Equipment was old and stored badly, leaders had failed to act on previous recommendations to improve intelligence, and there was a broad lack of current policies or procedures for a division that existed to ensure that legislative functions of Congress were not disrupted by civil unrest or protest activity.

The Capitol Police have so far refused to publicly release the report, despite congressional pressure to do so. House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, D-calif., issued a statement in March that the report contained “detailed and disturbing findings and important recommendations.” Bolton was expected to testify before the committee today.

KENT NISHIMURA/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS Rioters storm the Capitol during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election.