John,
Ahead of January 6, U.S. Park Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police officials raised concerns about permits sought by pro-Trump rally organizers, and even wanted to enlist President Biden’s inaugural committee to help block the permits, according to records obtained by CREW. For more, read CREW’s full investigation.
Details and locations of events were changed repeatedly, and several of the organizers claimed to be working directly with then-president Trump, all of which raised alarms for officials in charge of permitting. Not only was the permitting process chaotic, but the documents reflect an awareness of the potential for violence on January 6, and noted that many rally attendees were expected to march to the Capitol.
While these documents help shed light on what was going on ahead of January 6, they also raise additional questions. Why was the involvement of groups that had previously been a source of violence not a greater source of concern? Why were plans to march to the Capitol not taken more seriously as a potential security risk?
As our FOIA investigations continue, we’re learning exactly how much federal agencies knew ahead of the insurrection—and how they appear not to have heeded the warning signs or prepared for the real possibility of violence. The more we learn, the more it becomes clear how important it is that the House Select Committee and other investigations answer these questions and more. We need to know exactly how the insurrection happened—so we can prevent it from ever happening again.
Thank you,
Noah Bookbinder
President, CREW
