Retired Army General Russel Honoré claims U.S. Capitol police and House and Senate gun sergeants were “complicit” in the Capitol riot last month.
House President Nancy Pelosi, D-California, tapped Honoré to lead the investigation into the safety of the U.S. Capitol after the January 6 attack.
RUSSEL HONOR, PELOSI-VIEW TO LEAD GUIDANCE OF CAPITOL SECURITY, CLOSED BY REPUBLICANS AS ‘EXTREMELY PARTISAN’
But a few days after the attack, Honoré set up the Capitol police and the House and Senate sergeants, claiming they were ‘complicity’.
“I was surprised the Pentagon did not have those troops on standby,” Honoré told MSNBC. “The FBI has had a major failure in their intelligence.”
He added: “I think once it was uncovered, it was complicit action by the Capitol police.”
Honoré said that an investigation should determine whether the former US police chief, Steven Sund, … was complicit with the gun sergeant in the House and the Senate. ‘
He added: “It gives rise to complicity.”
Gen. Russel Honore delivers remarks during a Hurricane Katrina memorial service on August 28, 2007 in New Orleans on the second anniversary of the disaster. (PAUL J. RICHARDS / AFP via Getty Images)
Honoré also suggested that Capitol police and other officials may have ‘heard because he may have thought 45’ – referring to former President Trump, the 45th President of the United States – ‘come to the Capitol and he has a place’ made for the protesters. ‘
During a separate interview with FOX 8, just a day after the riot, Honoré said he “has never seen such incompetence, so they are so stupid or ignorant or complicit.”
“I think they were complicit,” he said.
The comments come to the fore again while some Republican lawmakers criticize Honoré, who is known for his role in the response to Hurricane Katrina, calling him an ‘extremely biased’. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Tweeted this week that Honoré “should be the LAST person to investigate what happened at the Capitol on January 6th.”
And earlier this week, in a letter to Pelosi, GOP representatives Jim Jordan, Devin Nunes, James Comer and Rodney Davis also addressed the appointment of Honoré, saying he had been tapped by Pelosi “without consulting the minority.”
The Republicans, however, acknowledge that in honor of Honoré he has directed a number of Republicans to inform his work so far.
But they added that they “are hopeful that his review will result in favorable recommendations that are not influenced by political motivations” and that Republicans “remain skeptical that any of his final recommendations will be independent and unaffected by you.”
Pelosi’s office praised Honoré on Thursday in response to accusations of bias against him.
MEADOWS RIPS PELOSI ON CAPITOL SECURITY, calls for ‘MEASURED APPROACH’ TO SAFETY
“General Honoré is a dedicated civil servant whose name is synonymous with integrity and professionalism. His efforts to review the U.S. Capitol’s security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures and command and control have included seeking dual input to accomplish his mission. , “spokesman Drew said. Hammill told Fox News. “There is no room for bias in the Speaker’s efforts to make the American Capitol a safe place for staff, workers, press and members.”
Pelosi herself praised Honoré when she announced last month that he would lead an investigation into the security situation at the Capitol.
“The general is a respected leader with experience in dealing with crises,” she said on January 15. ‘Home leadership worked with General Honoré and saw his excellent leadership at the time of Katrina up close, especially Mr. Clyburn was the head of our Katrina task force. So he and I and others know very well how happy we are that the general has accepted it. “
The speaker added that there is a strong interest in Congress for a 9/11 type of commission, an outside commission to conduct the investigation into the action. In the meantime, I am very grateful to General Honoré for accepting this responsibility. ‘
This week, Pelosi said in a letter to members that Honoré had delivered a grim report on the safety of Capitol.
“Over the past few weeks, General Honoré has assessed our security needs by looking at what happened on January 6 and how we should ensure that it does not happen again,” she said. ‘It is clear from his findings and from the indictment that we need to know what happened … As we prepare for the Commission, it also appears from General Honoré’s interim report that we need to submit a supplementary grant. to provide for the safety of members and the safety of the Capitol. ‘
HOUSE REPUBLICAN’S QUESTIONS ANSWERS FROM PELOSI TO SAFETY DECISIONS TO THE CAPITOL RIOT
Concerns about the future security of the Capitol – and the continued significant presence of national guards in the Capitol complex – were fueled by the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.
Trump, after months of false claims that he won the presidential election, convened a rally in Washington, DC, with his supporters for the same day that Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence met in a joint sitting to discuss the results to confirm the election.
Trump reiterates his false claims that he won the presidential election, while he and advisers used rhetoric and provoked the large crowd. Trump has told his supporters to march to the Capitol after the protest.
Eventually, the big Trump mob overwhelmed the Capitol police and violated the Capitol, forcing hundreds of lawmakers and Pence to hide when they stormed the building.
Trump was eventually charged with inciting an uprising in the Capitol riot, but was not convicted at the Senate trial last week.
Fox News’s Tyler Olson and Sam Dorman contributed to this report.