The US Capitol Police have reportedly suspended six officers and are investigating nearly 30 others in connection with the deadly January 6 riot in the US Capitol.
The Capitol Police Department of Occupational Responsibility is investigating a total of 35 officers, according to a statement made to The Hill. "Acting chief Yogananda Pittman has directed any member of her department whose behavior does not conform to the department's rules. Behavior will be subject to appropriate discipline. "
WTTG reported on the investigations on Thursday (February 18), while CNN reported on the possible additional probes. Investigators reportedly search social media posts and allegations that officials may have been involved in the riot.
Last month, the Capitol Police confirmed they were investigating the actions of some of their officers. In a statement made at the time, Pittman announced that its department is "actively reviewing video and other open source materials by some USCP officials and officials that appear to be violating the department's rules and guidelines."
"Our professional responsibility bureau will investigate these behaviors for disciplinary action, including termination," she added. "Several USCP officials have already been suspended pending the outcome of their investigations."
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The indictment announcement comes after the NAACP sued Donald Trump, his attorney Rudi Giuliani, and two white supremacist groups – the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers – for inciting the Capitol uprising and violating the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 .
The Ku Klux Klan Bill was introduced by Ohio Rep. Samuel Shellabarger at a time during the Reconstruction process when hate groups fearful that blacks would compete with whites for jobs and opportunities were terrorizing people just a few years before enslavement stood looking for ways to survive.
According to the New York Times, the law should support the 14th amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees due process under the law. But the law was also a response to the Klan threatening members of the Southern Congress to exercise their constitutional responsibilities, which NAACP lawyers said happened during the Capitol siege.
In a statement, the NAACP said the defendants had launched a "carefully coordinated" plan to use threats, intimidation and harassment to prevent electoral college votes from being certified in the 2020 election. Last month, hordes of violent rioters stormed into the Capitol, besieged it, destroyed rooms and forced lawmakers to take cover for hours. Five people, including a Capitol policeman, died in the fracas. Congress resumed the confirmation of votes the next morning, cementing the election victory for Joe Biden.
Trump was charged and accused by members of the House of Representatives of instigating the riot through incendiary rhetoric at a rally shortly before the violence. However, on February 13, he was acquitted when the Senate did not have enough votes to convict him.
