Fact check: What congressional investigations revealed about Pentagon-Capitol Police coordination on January 6th?

1. Summary of the results

The congressional investigations into the Pentagon-Capitol Police coordination on January 6th revealed significant missteps and failures in the response to the Capitol riot ^[1]. The investigations found that the Pentagon hesitated in sending the National Guard to the Capitol, with Maj. Gen. William Walker stating that he could have gotten personnel to the building within 20 minutes of getting approval, but the support did not happen until the evening due to unusual restrictions and delayed authorization from the Defense Department ^[2]. The Senate report criticized the Pentagon's delayed response to the Capitol Police's request for assistance, stating that the Pentagon spent hours 'mission planning' and seeking multiple layers of approvals ^[1]. The report also found a breakdown in law enforcement intelligence and communication before and during the Capitol riot, including intelligence not being passed on to police and officers lacking command ^[3]. Additionally, the report noted that the Washington DC National Guard was not deployed by the Pentagon until three hours after it was requested by police ^[3]. The investigations also found that Trump watched the violence play out on TV, ignoring calls from allies and others to call off the mob, and that the select committee found that Trump had 'never telephoned his Secretary of Defense that day to order deployment of National Guard, and never contacted any federal law enforcement agency to order security assistance to the Capitol Police' ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

One key aspect missing from the original statement is the role of intelligence failures in the lead-up to the Capitol riot ^[5]. The bipartisan Senate report found that security and intelligence failures led to the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol ^[5]. The report highlights the lack of planning and preparation by the US Capitol Police and law enforcement leadership, as well as the failure of federal intelligence agencies to warn of the potential for violence ^[5]. Another missing context is the lack of coordination among federal agencies, including the FBI and DHS, in preparing for the January 6th event ^[6]. The article notes that the DHS did not designate January 6th as a National Special Security Event, which would have increased security and response coordination and capabilities ^[6]. Alternative viewpoints include the perspective of the Capitol Police, who were criticized for their lack of preparation and intelligence gathering ^[1], and the perspective of the National Guard, who were not deployed in a timely manner ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading in its implication that the congressional investigations only focused on the Pentagon-Capitol Police coordination ^[2]. In reality, the investigations found a broader range of failures and missteps, including intelligence failures, lack of planning and preparation, and breakdowns in communication and coordination ^{[1] [3] [5]}. The statement may also be biased towards highlighting the role of the Pentagon and the National Guard, while downplaying the role of other factors, such as intelligence failures and lack of coordination among federal agencies ^[6]. The statement may benefit those who seek to shift blame away from the Trump administration and onto the Pentagon or other agencies ^[4]. On the other hand, the statement may also benefit those who seek to highlight the need for improved coordination and planning among federal agencies, particularly in the context of national security events ^[5].