Capitol Police Rejected Multiple Offers of Federal Help: Report

Capitol police officers stand guard as protesters gather on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) rejected offers of federal manpower days before Jan. 6—and they again turned down an offer of federal reinforcements as protestors breached the Capitol building during the formal counting of electoral votes.

Three days before Jan. 6, the Pentagon asked Capitol Police if they needed National Guard manpower, but their offer was turned down by Capitol Police, unnamed senior defense officials told the Associated Press.