Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Sunday expressed confidence in Washington, D.C.'s preparations for Jan. 6, noting “major changes” were made to security and protocol after the attacks four years ago. He said that
In an interview on CNN's “State of the Union,” Klobuchar said “yes,” when anchor Jake Tapper asked her Monday if D.C. was prepared for “whatever happens.”
“And let me be clear that in any of these events, as you saw in New Orleans, terrible things can happen and we know that. But we… How ready are they?'' Klobuchar continued.
Klobuchar said lawmakers and officials learned of the flaws in the security provisions on Jan. 6, 2021, when Congress last met to count certified electors for the next president.
“What we learned on January 6th of last year is that this could have been anything, but the death of a police officer and the injury to so many others will forever mark this incident with us. It's etched in my mind that there were literally cops who couldn't get to the scene in riot gear. I was trapped on the bus. Some kind of regulation that was in place to create a phone tree delayed the activation of the National Guard by four hours. The architect of the Capitol and the boss of many of its employees was also absent. ”
Several changes have been made since then, including new leadership for the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms and a new Capitol Police commander who can call directly for help from the National Guard in an emergency. The number of Capitol Police officers has increased by hundreds, a new Capitol Police insurrection unit has been created, and only 25% of officers now have riot gear in 2021.
“So these were dramatic changes. We made 103 recommendations. And my job as chair of the Rules Committee was to make sure they were completed.” Klobuchar said.
“As you know, we have a new police chief, morale is up, we have hundreds of more officers, we have a plan and a strategy in place,” she continued. While we are not always without threats to members of Congress and the Capitol, we feel strongly that we have made significant changes. ”
Klobuchar said she recalled a police officer on the front lines of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack saying, Does anyone have a plan?
“And the answer from leadership at the time was no. There is now clear leadership in place,” Klobuchar said.
