The House January 6 Committee is not happy with the Capitol Police debunking one of their claims that Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) gave a tour to people with the express purpose of helping soon-to-be rioters for the attack on the Capitol building the next day.
Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger sent a letter to Congressman Rodney Davis (D-IL) explaining Loudermilk provided a tour to constituents on January 5, 2021, within the House office buildings, not the Capitol building itself. Loudermilk eventually left the group as they continued to walk through the office buildings. Because Loudermilk was no longer with them, they were unable to enter the Capitol building.
Manger said the Capitol officers did not "consider any of the activities we observed as suspicious."
#January6 Capitol Police Chief J.Thomas Manger, “There is no evidence that Rep. Loudermilk entered the U.S. Capitol with this group on January 5, 2021. We train our officers on being alert…we do not consider any of the activities we observed as suspicious.” pic.twitter.com/VAsFVMilsx
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) June 15, 2022
Despite the letter from Manger being given to Davis on Monday, the January 6th Committee sent tweets on Wednesday insisting there was something nefarious with what Loudermilk did with his constituents prior to the riot.
Surveillance footage shows a tour led by Loudermilk to areas in the House Office Buildings, as well as the entrances to Capitol tunnels.
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) June 15, 2022
Individuals on the tour photographed/recorded areas not typically of interest to tourists: hallways, staircases and security checkpoints. pic.twitter.com/Rjhf2BTdbc
Please take a look. These are not normal tour routes, the Capitol was closed to tours. https://t.co/DYCrgl1ijB
— Adam Kinzinger?????????? (@AdamKinzinger) June 15, 2022
The committee further sent another request to Loudermilk for information about the event.
The Select Committee renews request for information from Representative Barry Loudermilk.
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) June 15, 2022
In a letter to Loudermilk, Chair @BennieGThompson underscored the need to gather more info about certain individuals who were part of the tour through the Capitol complex on Jan 5, 2021. pic.twitter.com/G91zhuws4e