Outgoing US Capitol Police chief criticizes Trump pardons for Jan. 6 defendants
Outgoing United States Capitol Police (USCP) Chief J. Thomas Manger has sounded off on President Donald Trump's pardons of the Jan. 6 defendants – calling the day of the sweeping pardons one of the most troubling moments of his career, according to a report.
Manger, who will retire later this week, has been a vocal critic of those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and lamented Trump pardoning nearly all defendants shortly after his inauguration this year.
He told Wtop "I was angry and as frustrated about that as I've ever been professionally."
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Manger told the outlet that as discouraging as that was, it made him determined to continue to make improvements. "What it made me feel like is somebody's got to stay here and stand up for these cops," Manger said.
Manger has served as USCP chief since July 2021 and was hired to rebuild the force and implement reforms to enhance security and preparedness in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot. The more than 100 reform recommendations included expanding intelligence, training and riot-response capabilities.
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He has often condemned the attack, referring to it as an "insurrection" and an attack on democracy. Trump has referred to those who were imprisoned as "hostages."
"Some people in this country believe January 6 wasn't that bad," Manger told WTOP. "My cops know what happened on January 6. They know what happened. They were here."
Manger's police career stretches back to 1977, when he started out as an officer with the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia. He rose to chief of department in 1998 and remained in that role until 2004. Manger became chief of police in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 2004 and held the position until his retirement in 2019.
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On July 23, 2021, he was appointed chief of the United States Capitol Police, succeeding Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman.
When news broke that the Justice Department had agreed in principle to pay $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, a former Air Force veteran who was shot dead during the Capitol Riot, Manger sent a message to his department's officers writing that he was "extremely disappointed."
"In 2021, the DOJ said that there was no evidence to show that law enforcement broke the law. After a thorough investigation, it was determined to be a justified shooting. "This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement officers across our nation — especially those who have a protective mission like ours," Manger wrote, according to the Washington Post.
In December 2022, the USCP were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress — for their bravery on Jan. 6, 2021. Manger accepted the honor on behalf of the department.
The USCP dates back to 1800, when the Congress moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., and a lone watchman, John Golding, was hired to protect the Capitol Building, according to USCP website.
After a number of incidents in 1827 that could have been prevented with sufficient security and surveillance, then President John Quincy Adams asked that a regular Capitol Police force be established. On May 2, 1828, Congress passed an act that expanded the police regulations of the City of Washington to include the Capitol and Capitol Square. It is on this date that the USCP commemorates its founding.Original article source: Outgoing US Capitol Police chief criticizes Trump pardons for Jan. 6 defendants
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