Senate Republicans have launched investigations into the Biden-Harris administration’s response to the mob that ravaged iconic monuments near the U.S. Capitol during the Israeli prime minister’s visit last month.
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, is investigating the National Park Service’s response to the protests, which included clashes with police, pro-Hamas graffiti scrawled on monuments and the burning of a federally owned American flag.
In a letter to the park service’s director, Mr. Cruz demanded answers about the “Biden-Harris administration’s failure to deploy adequate resources to prevent” the riot.
“Despite extensively damaging property, assaulting U.S. Park Police officers, and blocking a major thoroughfare and access to a critical transit hub, their appalling and criminal actions went largely unchecked. This should never have been allowed to happen,” he said.
He said the park service was given advance notice of about 5,000 activists protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit on July 24, but only 29 officers were sent to monitor the demonstration. The protest turned violent at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station.
The Department of the Interior said it had no comment. The Park Service also declined to comment on Mr. Cruz’s letter but said no resource requests were declined by NPS or Interior staff and that Park Police “had a full force commitment” and “specific numbers” have not been accurate.
An American flag outside Union Station was removed and set on fire. The Christopher Columbus fountain and Liberty Bell reproduction were spray-painted with messages such as “Hamas is coming,” “Free Gaza,” “All zionists are bastards” and “Free Palestine.”
Mr. Cruz said U.S. Capitol Police provided briefings for other police agencies, and he praised Amtrak Police, which was responsible for Union Station and took the precaution of “quintupling” its presence of officers.
“The insufficient resources deployed by NPS, despite advance notice of the massive protest and the propensity of pro-Hamas demonstrations to turn violent, was negligent,” he said. “Even with every USPP officer in the D.C. area deployed, the many other demands on that force left far too few men and women available for a major protest that could turn violent, and the Park Police union is not aware of any effort to get additional officers.”
He requested information about the park service’s knowledge of plans by the ANSWER Coalition, the anti-Israel group that requested the permit to protest. He also asked for details about precautions taken, the number of officers for the Columbus Circle protests and any coordination with other law enforcement agencies. He asked the park service to turn over body-camera footage, reports completed after the protest and its plans to stop further incidents.
Sen. John Barrasso, Wyoming Republican, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland demanding an accounting of the violence and vandalism in the nation’s capital.
“Your failure to act decisively jeopardizes the safety of federal personnel and diminishes public trust in DOI’s ability to uphold the rule of law,” Mr. Barrasso wrote. “The American people deserve to know that their federal lands and the personnel who protect them will not suffer neglect or unnecessary endangerment.”
He said the July protest was “especially concerning” because he had written letters urging the Interior Department to help with the recruitment and retention rate of U.S. Park Police.
“Your failure to act decisively jeopardizes the safety of federal personnel and diminishes public trust in DOI’s ability to uphold the rule of law,” he said.
He demanded responses to questions of accountability and coordination, support for federal personnel, strengthening security and changes to policy and protocols.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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