One of the Capitol police officers took a selfie with someone who was part of the mob that passed by the Capitol, and the other wore a “Make America Great Again” hat and started leading people around the building, according to Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio. Democrat. He did not disclose how many other officers were being investigated, but confirmed that it was between 10 and 15 and did not say what they were being investigated for, except that it was their behavior during the riot.
Ryan added that one individual was arrested, but he does not know if the person is a police officer or part of the national guard. He said more details about the arrest would come later.
Democratic members of the House raised questions about possible sympathy for the attackers among the ranks of the U.S. Capitol Police. The agency did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Democrat in South Carolina, is among those questioning whether some Capitol police officers helped the protesters and were complicit in Wednesday’s uprising. Clyburn, for example, said it was disgusting that the rioters knew the location of lawmakers’ offices.
Early videos – one showing a Trump supporter taking a selfie with a police officer near the Capitol entrance and another showing police leaving protesters inside the building – worked on social media.
It was later found that the second video was taken an hour after the Capitol was violated.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat who chairs one of the House committees overseeing Capitol police, said the videos would be investigated.
“A number of social media have expressed concern about individual officers who, if you watch the video, took selfies with these rioters or even allowed them,” Lofgren said. “We need to investigate this thoroughly, but I also know that there were many officers who responded with great courage. Many officers were injured to protect the Capitol and we thank them for their patriotism for protecting this temple of democracy.”
This is a striking story and will be updated.