Investigations surrounding January 6—when a mob of pro-Trump extremists who fell for Trump's election lies launched a deadly failed insurrection against the U.S. Capitol—are still underway. Hundreds of rioters have been arrested and the House Select Committee on the riots continues to request documents and call officials in for questioning.
Though Republicans have repeatedly dismissed the severity of the riots, what's been practically unanimous among lawmakers is the response of the Capitol and D.C. Metro police officers who fought off rioters during the insurrection, saving the lives of multiple lawmakers.
But not every Capitol officer is getting rewarded—at least six are facing discipline.
Among those six was an officer reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by his friend of 40 years, according to McClatchy. The unnamed officer divulged to the friend the secure location where lawmakers took refuge as rioters infiltrated the Capitol.
The friend believed the officer was on the side of the rioters, writing to the FBI:
"I don't want to report a friend of forty years but [he] says enough concerning statements that I feel like I need to do this... he's just fallen into this cult and these beliefs."
Though the officer denied being ideologically aligned with the rioters, he told the FBI:
"I can't say one hundred percent that I didn't do what you're telling me I did."
Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a favorite enemy of the right, faced widespread mockery earlier this year for describing her traumatic time during the riots, especially the moment a Capitol Police officer, who didn't announce himself, entered her nearby office as rioters were storming the main Capitol building.
She said in the weeks after the riots:
"Like so many other communities in this country, just that presence doesn't give you a clear signal if you're safe or not, so the situation did not feel OK. ... [the officer] was looking at me with a tremendous amount of anger and hostility. We couldn't read if this was a good situation or a bad situation."
Ocasio-Cortez pointed to this latest news for those who had criticized her account of the riots.
There were several reasons I refused to stay in the \u201csecure location\u201d on the 6th. This was one of them.\n\nFew people want to discuss the reality and implications of this because it\u2019s politically difficult, fraught, and unpopular, but it\u2019s right there. And we need to talk about it.https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1631728473
She wasn't the only one with a strong reaction to the news.
The call was coming from the inside.\n\nIt\u2019s time to acknowledge it.https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1631729776
It was very clear from the start of the insurrection that something was horribly wrong with the Capitol Police response, Now we're starting to find out.https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— Charles Johnson (@Charles Johnson) 1631756973
Every so often I think about the woman who tweeted, \u201cDo y\u2019all really think the police were in on Jan. 6?\u201d and I replied with a photo of a cop taking a selfie with one of the rioters DURING THE RIOT and she blocked mehttps://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— Eric Haywood (@Eric Haywood) 1631761935
This story is chilling. The casual way the red-pilled officer claims that he may or may not have tipped off the Capitol Rioters.... How many others had the same lack of understanding of what their job is?https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— The Rhythm (Cancel Creature) (@The Rhythm (Cancel Creature)) 1631723583
you've got to be $%^&ing kidding mehttps://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— National Security Counselors (@National Security Counselors) 1631729563
It is time for criminal charges of Sedition. His willingness to disclose confidential information about Congress members should result in charges of treason for aiding the terrorist. We need to make examples out of people involved & throw the book at them. Make folks think twice.https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— Snarky Shana (@Snarky Shana) 1631791369
They also defended Ocasio-Cortez.
So.... all the people who mocked @AOC when she said she was afraid of both the insurrectionists & Capitol Police Officers because she didn't know if some of the officers were actually working with or at least helping the rioters are going to, you know, say sorry, right? RIGHT?!https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— Danielle Campoamor (@Danielle Campoamor) 1631726469
I mean AOC, Ayanna Pressly & others told you there was a larger problem. And you know...we could see it on screenhttps://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— Mikki Kendall (@Mikki Kendall) 1631761808
remember when AOC said on one of the capitol officers directing her to a safe location had anger and hostility in his eyes\u2014and she wondered whether he was trying to put her in a vulnerable situation\u2014and she was mocked by both left and right?\n\na lot of y'all owe her an apology.https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1438122188280893443\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\udf42\ud83c\udf42Imani Gandied Apples\ud83c\udf41\ud83c\udf41 (@\ud83c\udf42\ud83c\udf42Imani Gandied Apples\ud83c\udf41\ud83c\udf41) 1631726188
The news comes just days ahead of a rally in front of the Capitol supporting the insurrectionists.
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