Congress will hold its first hearing next week with officials who were responsible for securing the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when supporters of former President Donald Trump forced their way into the building and rioted.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Rules Committee will hear from former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, former House sergeant-at-arms Paul Irving, former Senate sergeant-at-arms and Doorkeeper Michael Stenger, and acting Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee on Feb. 23.
The 10 a.m. hearing will “examine the security failures that led to a breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021,” and look at how the offices prepared and responded to the deadly attack, which resulted in the deaths of five people, including a Capitol Police officer.
“At the bipartisan Senate oversight hearing on February 23, I look forward to hearing directly from the officials responsible for securing the Capitol complex who made the decisions regarding preparations and response efforts that led to the security failures that endangered the lives of Vice President Pence, Members of Congress, first responders, and staff,” Sen. Rob Portman, the top Republican on the HSGAC, said in a statement. “This will inform what reforms need to be made to ensure nothing like January 6 ever happens again.”
House and Senate lawmakers have been privately briefed about the incident and how security protocols have been stepped up in the aftermath of the unprecedented attack during the House’s certifying of election results. Sund vowed a full investigation into the incident but has since stepped down from his post.
Committee leaders announced on Jan. 8 that the two panels would hold joint oversight of the investigation. The committees asked 22 agencies and departments for information about how they had prepared and responded to the riots.
Chairman Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, oversees the HSGAC. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota leads the rules committee, and Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri is the top Republican.
