General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCapitol Police official who said to watch for 'anti-Trump' forces on Jan. 6 was deputy chief
Link to tweet
Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney
NEWS: The Capitol Police leader who told officers to watch for anti-Trump forces in the crowd on Jan. 6 was Deputy Chief Eric Waldow, the highest-ranking official outside the building that day, USCP and congressional sources say.
Capitol Police official who said to watch for anti-Trump forces on Jan. 6 was deputy chief
Eric Waldows 8:24 a.m. radio transmission is facing congressional scrutiny amid a broader security review.
politico.com
3:06 PM · Apr 30, 2021
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/30/capitol-police-trump-insurrection-485138
Eric Waldows 8:24 a.m. radio transmission is facing congressional scrutiny amid a broader security review.
But rank-and-file officers have been furious at their leadership since the attack occurred, many saying they felt woefully underprepared for the vicious assault they faced. The departments union delivered resounding votes of no confidence to Pittman and other Capitol Police leaders in February. Waldow fared better than most, earning 64 percent disapproval.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) first revealed Waldows radio communication without naming him during a hearing last week in which she raised concerns that the Capitol Police leadership appeared, on the morning of Jan. 6, to be focused on anti-Trump activists rather than the concerted attack on the Capitol that was about to unfold. Although Lofgren initially indicated that the radio transmission suggested officers should only focus on anti-Trump figures, the transcript of the transmission is more nuanced.
With regards to pedestrian traffic on on the grounds today, we anticipate a a large presence for pro-Trump participants," Waldow radioed fellow officers, according to the transcript of the directive. "What were looking for is any anti-Trump counter protestors.
After Lofgren revealed Waldow's directive, the Capitol Police pushed back publicly, releasing the verbatim text of the transmission and suggesting Lofgren had taken it out of context. The department said Waldow's remark was meant to suggest officers should be mindful that anti-Trump activists in the crowd were likely to create hotspots for potential altercations with Trump-allied marchers a dynamic that had played out in previous protests.
*snip*
elleng
(130,126 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)to explain that
UpInArms
(51,252 posts)Aware they would need to defend the Capitol from pro-trump forces ... and that anti-trump forces would have been assisting them in protecting the seat of democracy.
bottomofthehill
(8,261 posts)fortunately there were very few anti-trump people there. It would have turned into a bloodbath and the police, already spread thin would have been even thinner trying to keep pro and anti trump people apart which seems to be what the chief was looking for.
Chief Waldo was seen on the west front fighting to hold the building with his officers.
bottomofthehill
(8,261 posts)Chief Waldo seemed to be looking for flash points. People had been stabbed and beaten when the pro and anti trump crowds had been in contact before. This transmission does not seem totally out of line, in artful maybe, but totally out of line, I don't know, maybe worth a re-read the Waldo quote below
With regards to pedestrian traffic on on the grounds today, we anticipate a a large presence for pro-Trump participants," Waldow radioed fellow officers, according to the transcript of the directive. "What were looking for is any anti-Trump counter protestors.