Nothing ‘Suspicious’ About Republican-Led Tour Day Before Jan. 6

Topline

Capitol Police have determined a tour of the Capitol complex a Republican congressman gave the day before the January 6 riot was not “suspicious,” despite the January 6 committee saying last month the tour was under investigation over allegations rioters took “reconnaissance” visits to the Capitol before storming the building.

Key Facts

In a letter, Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger told Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), the lead Republican on the House Administration Committee, police have no reason to believe the tour by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) is of any concern.

Manger said the tour took a group of about 15 constituents around areas of the Rayburn and Cannon House office buildings, but the visitors never entered the Capitol itself or appeared in any tunnels leading to the Capitol.

Leaders of the January 6 committee contacted Loudermilk last month regarding the tour, asking him to voluntarily answer questions about the visit as part of their investigation.

Loudermilk slammed the committee’s scrutiny of a tour involving “a constituent family with young children,” calling it a “political circus.”

Crucial Quote

“We train our officers on being alert for people conducting surveillance or reconnaissance, and we do not consider any of the activities we observed as suspicious,” Manger said.

Key Background

Democratic lawmakers have long asserted their Republican colleagues may have shown rioters the Capitol in the days leading up to January 6, but GOP lawmakers have denied any “reconnaissance” tours took place. Firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has also faced criticism over a tour she gave in the days leading up to January 6. Two Democratic lawmakers shortly after the riot accused her of hosting a “large” group, but Boebert claims the group was only a small number of family members. The January 6 committee has held two public hearings over the past few days—the first being in primetime on Thursday night to an audience of more than 20 million viewers. The hearings thus far have largely focused on rioters’ actions the day of the Capitol storming and former President Donald Trump’s insistence that he won the 2020 election despite top advisors telling him he lost. The next hearing takes place on Thursday.

Tangent

Trump endorsed Loudermilk for reelection just two days after the January 6 committee announced it was investigating the tour. Loudermilk ran unopposed in the Republican primary for his House seat.

Further Reading

January 6 Committee Says GOP Rep. Gave Capitol Tours Day Before Riot, Contradicting Denials (Forbes)

Trump Endorses Loudermilk—Who’s Under Scrutiny For Capitol Tour Day Before Jan. 6 (Forbes)

Jan. 6 Committee Hearing: Riot Defendants Say Trump ‘Asked’ Them To Storm Capitol (Forbes)

Jan. 6 Hearing Shows Rioters Repeating Trump’s Baseless Election Claims — Even As Former White House Lawyer Called Allegations ‘Nuts’ (Forbes)

More Than 20 Million Tuned Into January 6 Hearing—Topping NBA Finals (Forbes)