Capitol Police Intensely Scrutinized for Failing to Stop Mob
- Capitol Police chief, Sergeant-at-Arms, hand in resignations
- One officer died of injuries sustained in clashes, police say
Demonstrators clash with U.S. Capitol police officers while trying to enter the Capitol building on Jan. 6.
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. Capitol Police force, which uses a roster fit for a mid-sized city to defend a compact 270-acre campus, is under a type of scrutiny it’s rarely seen in two centuries of existence.
Outmatched officers failed to prevent a mob of President Donald Trump supporters from invading the Capitol Wednesday, sending lawmakers fleeing for safety. The fallout has been swift, with Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund saying he’ll resign effective Jan. 16. House Sergeant at Arms, Paul Irving, who plays a role in overseeing the police, also quit.