Architect of the Capitol testifies on insurrection

Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton refutes statements given by Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittmanon Tuesday saying he was never contacted about deploying the National Guard to secure Congress and the Capitol.

Pittman stated that Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund asked the Capitol Police Board for additional resources before the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Blanton testifying before a House subcommittee is a member of the U.S. Capitol Police Board, the oversight body with ultimate say over whether the National Guard can patrol Capitol grounds.

The three-member Board includes Blanton, and both sergeants-at-arms of the U.S. House and Senate.

"I refute the point that -- I was not asked specifically for those, for additional resources."

Chairman, Rep. Tim Ryan (D) Ohio and Ranking member of the subcommittee, Washington Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, highlighted questions on the Capitol security.  And focused much of the discussion to actions of the Capitol Police Board prior to the January 6 insurrection.

The House Appropriations subcommittee hearing was slated to hear testimony on post-U.S. Capitol attack damage, preservation, and employee health.

Matters of the Capitol security presented to the Capitol Police Board discussed prior to the January 6 insurrection were some of the highlights of the subcommittee hearing.

Congress is considering a bipartisan, independent commission, and multiple congressional committees have said they will look at different aspects of the siege.

Federal law enforcement has arrested more than 230 people who were accused of being involved in the attack, and attorney general nominee Merrick Garland said in his confirmation hearing Monday that investigating the riot would be a priority.

Security officials testifying before the Senate at Congress' first hearing on the Capitol riot Tuesday are casting blame and pointing fingers. But they also acknowledged that they were woefully unprepared for the violent white nationalists and extremists plotting the siege.

Senators drilled down on the stunning security failure that day as rioters loyal to former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, sending lawmakers certifying President Joe Biden's election to flee for safety.

Trump was impeached by the House for inciting the insurrection but was acquitted by the Senate. It was the most violent attack on Congress in 200 years.

In opening remarks Blanton and Farar Elliott, House of Representatives Curator described damage to statues, paintings and Capitol grounds during the riot.