Unruly MAGA fans threatened Park Police hours before Jan. 6 Capitol attack: report
The U.S. Department of the Interior Inspector General produced a report Tuesday finding that some Jan. 6 protesters were threatening Park Police long before rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.
According to the document, National Park Service rangers and U.S. Park Police officers were staged at the Washington Monument in the early morning, when there were already hundreds of MAGA supporters gathered. The NPS attempted to close the area and asked people to leave.
"USPP officers reported in their post-event incident reports that some people refused to do so," the report recalls. "One USPP officer arrested an individual after he opened a portion of the fencing surrounding the plaza, entered the closed area, and stated that the area was open to everyone.
"After the individual was arrested, the crowd started to follow the USPP officers as they walked away with the individual under arrest."
The officer called for backup, and staff in the area "retreated inside the Washington Monument security facility and locked the door. There were nearly 20 people locked inside the security facility, including the individual under arrest, the NPS park rangers, private security officers who worked at the Washington Monument, and USPP officers."
People banged on the doors and the glass with flagpoles, sticks and fists as the officers hid inside, according to the report. After about 25 minutes, additional Park Police arrived and officers were able to leave the area. The man remained under arrest.
As more Park Police arrived, the crowds began to disperse.
The incident happened about 9 a.m., the report said — two hours after U.S. Secret Service countersurveillance agents said over the radio that “members of the crowd are wearing ballistic helmets, body armor and carrying radio equipment and military-grade backpacks," the House Select Committee reports.
It was also more than four hours before the Capitol came under full attack.
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It was ten minutes later that Trump took to the stage and called on Vice President Mike Pence to "send it back to the states" and demanded "extreme courage."
Around 10:30 a.m., members of the Proud Boys militia began marching down the National Mall toward the U.S. Capitol. It was 17 minutes later that Rudy Giuliani called for "trial by combat." Another group of Proud Boys left the rally and began marching toward the Capitol.