Representative Zoe Lofgren described the radio broadcast, the existence of which was not known, during a hearing of the House Administration Committee on security breaches around the January 6 attack.
In that broadcast, the officer said, “Attention all units in the field, we’re not looking for any pro-Trumps in the crowd. We’re just looking for any anti-Trump who wants to start a fight,” according to Lofgren, a California Democrat.
Lofgren, who chairs the committee, said he was quoting a report from the radio call, which found the department’s professional responsibility office during the ongoing review of allegations related to officers’ conduct on Jan. 6. . He did not identify the officer.
A Capitol police spokesman told CNN that the described radio communication occurred around 8 a.m. on the day of the riot. The spokesman added that the communication was intended to guide agents to seek clashes between pro-Trump and counter-protesters as well. The official who made the comment is not under investigation, the spokesman said.
Neither Capitoline police nor Congress have released the audio of the show, despite requests to do so.
U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton said he had not yet read internal reports of the investigation – which CNN reported last month led to allegations of 36 officers – but that he planned to do so. – once the review is complete.
A committee aide told CNN that Lofgren’s line of questioning underscores the point that the USCP, based on intelligence available at the time, had ample reason to expect violence from pro-Trump protesters targeting the Capitol and to lawmakers, but “despite this and all online rhetoric … USCP supervisors on the morning of 1/6 were apparently still advising their front-line officers to focus on anti-dumping protesters and prioritize protesters.”
In the future, Bolton “will be able to review radio broadcasts and plans to review general findings and command and control communications, knowing now that there is a specific allegation about these communications that should be looked at specifically,” he said. the assistant. .
Lofgren’s description of the radio broadcast in question offers some rare insights into the type of conduct the Capitol police are considering as part of the ongoing investigation.
One of the suspended officers took a selfie with someone who was part of the mob that passed the Capitol, said then-Rep. Tim Democrat, an Ohio Democrat. Another wore a “Make America Great Again” hat and started directing people around the building, Ryan added.
USCP Chief of Staff Yogananda Pittman said in January that the department “has been actively reviewing videos and other open source materials of some USCP officers and officials that appear to violate USCP regulations and policies.” Department “.
This story has been updated with comments from a Capitol police spokesman.
CNN’s Whitney Wild contributed to this report.