- Capitol Police stated that Rep. Barry Loudermilk gave a tour of the Capitol Complicated on January 5.
- Nevertheless, the group of 15 did not enter the US Capitol constructing, Chief J. Thomas Manger wrote.
- Whereas Loudermilk’s tour had come underneath scrutiny, police stated it was not suspicious.
The Capitol Police chief confirmed in a letter on Monday that GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia had given 15 individuals a tour of the Capitol Complicated on the eve of the January 6 assault, including that it wasn’t suspicious.
Chief J. Thomas Manger additionally stated that the group did not enter the Capitol constructing, in his letter to Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, the rating Republican member of the Home Administration committee.
“We prepare our officers on being alert for individuals conducting surveillance or reconnaissance, and we don’t contemplate any of the actions we noticed as suspicious,” Manger wrote.
Citing safety footage, Manger stated that Loudermilk had led a gaggle of 12 individuals, which later grew to fifteen, by way of the Rayburn, Cannon, and Longworth buildings, however the group by no means appeared at “any tunnels that may have led them to the US Capitol.”
Manger added that Loudermilk cut up from the group whereas they spent 5 minutes at an exhibit within the Cannon constructing. The group was within the Capitol Complicated from round 11 a.m. to simply after 1 p.m., per Manger.
His report is the fruits of an investigation launched final month after Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherill of New Jersey and greater than 30 of her colleagues printed a letter asking Capitol Police to look into “suspicious habits and entry given to guests” on January 5.
Republicans on the Home Administration committee reviewed safety footage, and an aide anonymously informed The Hill: “There have been no excursions, no giant teams, nobody with MAGA hats on.”
Nevertheless, the Home committee investigating the January 6 riot highlighted Loudermilk’s tour in Could, asking him to come forward with information about it.
Loudermilk and Davis — who each serve on the administration committee — then launched a press release saying that Loudermilk had led “a constituent household with younger youngsters” and that they by no means entered the Capitol constructing.
On the day of the assault itself, the Loudermilk gave an interview to Georgia radio station WBHF as he was “locked down in a safe place.” Within the interview, he described the guests on January 5 as “a few dozen individuals up right here that needed to come back by and go to” his workplace.
He stated they have been “peaceable individuals” he had met at church. Loudermilk added that they have been supporters of former President Donald Trump, had come to attend a rally, and implied that they’d marched to the Capitol on January 6 however turned again.
“We have really checked on them to be sure that they’re protected. After they noticed what it was turning into, they instantly turned and went again down the mall to get away from the group right here,” he informed WBHF.
The New York Occasions beforehand reported {that a} doc held by Enrique Tarrio, the previous chief of the Proud Boys group that stormed the Capitol, outlined a plan to ship no less than 50 individuals into every of seven authorities buildings.
Whereas the doc would not particularly point out an assault on the Capitol, it carefully resembles what occurred through the riot, The Occasions reported.
Loudermilk shared Manger’s letter in a Tuesday tweet, writing: “The reality will all the time prevail. As I’ve stated for the reason that Jan. 6 Committee made their baseless accusation about me to the media, I by no means gave a tour of the Capitol on Jan 5, 2022.”
