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Nevilledog

(50,659 posts)
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 06:14 PM Apr 2021

Capitol Police official who said to watch for 'anti-Trump' forces on Jan. 6 was deputy chief



Tweet text:
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 Waldow’s 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 Waldow’s 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 department’s 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 Waldow’s 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 we’re 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*


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Capitol Police official who said to watch for 'anti-Trump' forces on Jan. 6 was deputy chief (Original Post) Nevilledog Apr 2021 OP
facing congressional scrutiny elleng Apr 2021 #1
Good.. let Officer Wallow Try Cha Apr 2021 #2
The Capitol police should have been UpInArms Apr 2021 #3
Maybe a bridge too far there. bottomofthehill Apr 2021 #4
The trump supporters turned insurrectionist crowd had a permit to be on Capitol grounds bottomofthehill Apr 2021 #5

UpInArms

(51,252 posts)
3. The Capitol police should have been
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 07:01 PM
Apr 2021

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)
4. Maybe a bridge too far there.
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 10:34 PM
Apr 2021

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)
5. The trump supporters turned insurrectionist crowd had a permit to be on Capitol grounds
Fri Apr 30, 2021, 10:40 PM
Apr 2021

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 we’re looking for is any anti-Trump counter protestors.”


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