Security officials blame intel failures for Capitol riot response

Four top officials in charge of security at the Capitol on the day of the deadly riot testified that they were unaware of an FBI warning that the Trump supporters could turn violent. Kris Van Cleave reports.

Video Transcript

– And we’re going to turn now to Capitol Hill. Today, the Senate went looking for answers into why police were so outmanned when that angry mob stormed the Capitol on January 6. Four top officials in charge of security that day essentially said, don’t blame us. We didn’t know what the FBI knew about the protesters. CBS’s Kris Van Cleave reports tonight from the Capitol.

KRIS VAN CLEAVE: As his officers battled for their lives on January 6, former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund told senators today he was unaware of an FBI alert sent the night before, warning protesters could get violent and go there ready for war. That key raw intelligence was sent only to a sergeant in the agency’s intelligence office.

– And so you hadn’t seen it yourself?

STEVEN SUND: No, ma’am. It did not go any further than that.

KRIS VAN CLEAVE: In the first public hearing focused on the Capitol attack, the former Sergeant at Arms for the House and Senate, the former Capitol Police Chief, and the acting DC Police Chief all faulted the intelligence used to prepare for January 6.

PAUL IRVING: Based on the intelligence, we all believed that the plan met the threat, and that we were prepared. We now know that we had the wrong plan.

STEVEN SUND: These criminals came prepared for war. They came with their own radio system to coordinate the attack.

KRIS VAN CLEAVE: Tonight, prosecutors alleged Thomas Webster, a marine veteran and retired NYPD officer was among the rioters. They say he assaulted a police officer with a flagpole holding a Marine Corps flag. He’s one of approximately 275 charged so far. Capitol Police Captain Carneysha Mendoza was in the rotunda that day.

CARNEYSHA MENDOZA: I received chemical burns to my face that still have not healed to this day.

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KRIS VAN CLEAVE: Sund told senators during the attack, he asked the House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving to approve his request for the National Guard at 1:09, but video appears to show Irving on the House floor then, and Irving disputed Sund’s account.

PAUL IRVING: Senator, from my recollection, I did not receive a request for approval for National Guard until shortly after 2:00 PM.

KRIS VAN CLEAVE: It took the Pentagon nearly four more hours to get the Guard on scene.

– There was not an immediate yes. I was just stunned that, you know, I have officers that were out there literally fighting for their lives.

KRIS VAN CLEAVE: Former Chief Sund acknowledged the Capitol Police had never trained for the type of attack they saw on January 6. In fact, his department didn’t even have enough riot helmets for all of its officers. He said they had been ordered, but then were delayed because of COVID and had only started arriving the week of the attack. Nora.

– So many new details we learned today, Kris Van Cleave. Thank you.